Be a Merry Dumbo!

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 I love the Disney classic, “Dumbo.” It’s the story of a little elephant who learns to accept himself and his large ears. Doing so, he grows into his potential. A good lesson. I wonder how many of us are fighting our bodies, our physical traits? What if we embraced them? Look at this image of Dumbo: It’s like a “before and after” photo, isn’t it? Could it possibly be a situation of “before acceptance” and “after acceptance?” God has created us to be who we are, traits and all. “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 Why are we spending so much time fighting it? And could fighting that reality be exactly what makes us so miserable? Think about your self- concept and your self- talk. Are you closer or further away from being the fulfilled potential you’re called to be? Fulfilling your potential starts with accepting your God-given, God-created identity. Are you doing that? Could it be that is the basis of joy? Knowing and celebrating yourself are not wrong, selfish things. Knowing and celebrating Who God has created you to bring Glory to God, health to yourself and others. But you won’t get there unless and until you stop hating and rejecting yourself. God has decided each one of us is worth loving. After all… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 So love yourself! Start embracing God’s acceptance and delight of you. And start applying it to yourself, step by step, bit by bit. It won’t be perfect and it won’t occur overnight, but God will honor it. Let your light flourish like Dumbo’s ears! Be yourself! Be God’s wonderful creation! And be happy! Copyright © 2012 by Sheryle Cruse