YELLOW HAIR
Written by Deborah
1.14.04
Last summer, my almost 4-year-old son figured out how to push a "mental button" of my almost 8-year-old daughter. Danielle has gorgeous jet black Asian (hard is the beauty tech term) hair.
"Hi, YELLOW HAIR!"
"I don't have yellow hair! Stop calling me yellow hair."
"Okay, YELLOW HAIR!"
"Mooommmmm, he's calling me yellow hair."
"I heard that Danielle, but you don't have yellow hair, so ignore it."
"But Mom, he's calling me yellow hair and that's not true."
"That's my point exactly Danielle. You don't have yellow hair and the statement is not true, so ignore it. It doesn't matter if Samuel or anyone calls you orange, green, blue or yellow hair. It's not true, you know it's not true, so just ignore those words."
"But Mom, he's telling a lie and it bothers me."
"Danielle, people are going to say things to you all your life that aren't true and if you know they're not true--ignore those words. Samuel, stop calling your sister yellow hair."
Out at the pond…
"Danielle look at those ducks in the pond. Do you see the water rolling off their backs? Do you know why the water rolls off a duck's back?"
"Because God made them that way?"
"Yes, but the way God made ducks to have feathers that repel water is the oil gland at the base of their back by their tail."
"What do you mean?"
"Every time those ducks clean and preen themselves, they rub their bills against that oil gland at the base of their backs above their tails. Their beaks grab a bit of oil and they rub that oil all over their feathers. So, throughout their day they're re-oiling their feathers to keep those feathers sleek, clean and conditioned to shed water."
"Okay Mom, now what are we out here for besides to look at ducks?"
"Whenever Samuel or anyone else calls you a name or uses words that are not true about you, I want to you let those words roll off you, like water off a duck's back. Just let false words and ideas roll right off your back and let them go. Ignore the false accusations, thoughts and ideas that aren't true, like water rolling off a duck's back--just like those ducks out on our pond."
"Mom, can we have bike race now?"
"Okay, yellow hair, let's go!"
In the adoption realm, many well-intentioned neighbors, friends, and family members share their opinions, ideas and suggestions using words. Many of these words, howbeit sincere, are false and in total opposition to the promises of God. As children of our heavenly Father who loves us dearly, we would be wise to listen to His words of truth and ignore words that cause us to falter. We would be wise to be like the duck, cleaning and preening our minds, preparing for the next deluge. Like water off a duck's back.
Now, here's your test question.
In the most whining and annoying voice imaginable, I ask you…
"Just what are you going to do with that ridiculous bouffant of purple hair?"
For more information please read Ordinary and Journey. We encourage you to prayerfully consider registering with our service, and/or writing to us.
adoption@christianadoption.com
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service ministry. We're helping others in the adoption
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