Normal?

I am continually amazed (and entertained) by our younger patients. While we have a playroom located right next door to my office….more often than not, while the parent(s) are talking to the doctor...the kids (ranging in age from 3 years to 25 years) usually end up in my office talking to me about everything that is going on in their lives.

Yesterday, one of our patients (who is about 9 years old) was telling me how much he loved to draw. As we talked, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. His response was “I just want to be normal.” I smiled at him and said, “You know, I’m not sure that anyone really knows what “normal” is anymore. I believe that God created us all different for a reason – I mean, just think about it. If we were all the same…it would be a really boring world. Don’t you think?” He looked at me and said, “I never thought of it that way!”. We continued to talk for a little while and before he left I looked over at him and said, “Remember, be yourself….because everyone else is already taken!” His smiled melted my heart!

As I began to think about just want constitutes “normal” – words like “average, common, usual and run-of-the mill” popped into my head. I thought back to my conversation with this precious patient. I never really thought about what he was saying. I began to wonder if this child just wanted to “blend in” with the crowd. To live his life unnoticed. It was then that I had this “ah-ha” moment.

How many of us want desperately to just blend in with the crowds? To live our lives completely unnoticed by others? Never wanting to share our heartbreaks and/or disappointments with others for fear of being judged or criticized. Choosing, instead, to try and work through our “stuff” alone. I don’t think this is God’s plan for our lives. While I certainly believe there are times that it just needs to be you and God….I also believe that there are far too many times that we allow our pride to keep us from seeking Godly counsel. As we look forward to a new year, I want to encourage you to not only encourage those pepole God has placed in your life....but, seek encouragement from other Believers. Let's not be afraid to share our lives with others.

“Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person.” Proverbs 3:27 (MSG)