My daughter Savannah is amazing. Can I say that without it sounding self-aggrandizing? No? I’m cool with that. I love my little girl who is not so little any more. As I write this, we are staring down the barrel of sixth grade. Since I was a youth pastor for almost a decade, this worries me. Middle school is tough and sixth grade is the equivalent to juvenile detention in our academic system. Eat or be eaten. I need to switch gears before I go into a full-blown panic attack. One of the things I love most about my daughter is how she is fearlessly…herself. She is so unique and unafraid of being different. Yes, I’m aware junior high can choke that out of you but I am praying non-stop that God will preserve that about her.
That being said, part of what makes Savannah unique and courageously herself is that she loves and has loved being other people. I know that’s confusing so you might need some examples. When she was really little, she loved the show “Blues Clues”. Back then, the host was Steve. If you ask me, there never really was any other host of Blues Clues except for Steve. Don’t get me started on that. Joe was a hack and I’d say that to his face. Actually, I’m already sorry for saying that. My apologies to the actor who played Joe.
Back to my daughter wanting to be Steve from Blues Clues. So Savannah, without any prompting from us, would find a striped shirt and khaki pants and would just appear in our living room. She would begin to act out scenes from Blues Clues. When I would ask “Savannah, what are you doing?” her answer would always be “I’m not Savannah, I’m Steve.” “So sorry…Steve.” As a matter of fact it seemed like there was a whole year where I’d have to call my daughter Steve, which is a little disheartening to a dad of a beautiful little girl like Savannah. “Savannah go clean your room.” “I’m Steve.” “STEVE GO CLEAN YOUR ROOM!!!” To be honest, at times it was SOOO frustrating but I look back on those times with fondness because she was so great at embodying those characters. Would it surprise you if I told you she has been in numerous drama camps, school musicals and anything that allows her that outlet? We’re on the same page then.
Savannah has the unique and uncanny ability to be other people while still remaining herself. The Church does not have that ability. In my next post, I’ll discuss why. See you next time.
mlsnellings 