The color I’m supposed to be

by: Carole L. Haines

There’s an interesting natural phenomenon that happens all around us every Spring.  We are used to the splendor of Autumn colors, but have you noticed that when the trees are just beginning to shed their Winter wears, the color of their buds are gloriously burgundy, sienna, or gold. At least where I live this is the phenomenon I see.  The interesting thing is that these are the true colors of the leaves.  They are truly gold, burgundy, sienna and wheat colored.  It is in the warmth of the Springtime sun and the lengthening of the days, that cause the trees to start producing the Chlorophyll in the leaves. This gives all of Trees their uniformly green colors.

Nature teaches us a lot about the Spiritual Life of a Child of God, and I believe this is one of the most poignant I have ever come across.  We start out our lives uniquely ourselves, but blow by blow, we begin to conform to people around us. We want to fit in, be accepted, be loved; so, we tend to do whatever it takes to make that happen.  In the process we lose ourselves, we stop being the color God created us to be.  We conform.

God has made us each completely unique, and for a specific purpose. God’s Word tells us not to conform to this world.

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

God created us just the way He wanted us to be, to conform to the desires of others, or even our own desires, is to mess with our true purpose.

¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

We are drawn by God deeper and deeper into who He created us to be.  I believe this is part of what John meant when He said that He (Jesus) must increase and we must decrease. (John 3:30)

It took me a long time to realize this precious truth.  I was made to be as I am, and for a very good purpose.  There are works God has just for me.  I have learned to say “No” to the things that others want me to do, and “Yes” to God’s purpose.  So much precious time was wasted trying to please others and myself.  I am in the Autumn of this journey now, and my leaves have taken on the color they were meant to be once again. Beautiful hues of burgundy, gold and sienna, are beginning to mark my life. I sense more joy and contentment then I ever did before, while trying to conform and be other people’s idea of “a Christian.” I am finally becoming the color I was supposed to be.  I pray God will lead you in your own journey of becoming uniquely who He made you to be too. God Bless.