You can call me Flower...

 

Spring always puts me in the mood to watch the animated Disney classic, “Bambi.” I admit it, I’m a sucker for those cute little critters. I have a soft spot for Flower, the bashful skunk who befriends our famous deer. I think my favorite scene in the movie is when these two characters encounter each other for the first time, hanging out in a flower patch. Ever the curious and constantly learning fawn, Bambi is in the middle of learning about his environment. He just recently learned the names a butterfly and a flower. And that brings us back to our cute little skunk. Upon bumping into Flower, nose to nose, Bambi, with great joy and enthusiasm, blurts, “Flower!”

Thumper, a rabbit character friend to our lead critter, cracks up at this “mistaken identity,” immediately trying to set Bambi straight. But he doesn’t get to finish his statement, as our cute skunk interjects, “He can call me Flower if he wants to. I don’t mind.”

 

Awwwh! Adorable.

And so, from that point on, our little aromatic friend is christened, “Flower.”

Think of how much easier it would be if we, male or female, could see ourselves as special and beautiful flowers. Yet how many of us struggle to see our valuable identity, as cherished creations of an incredible God?

Most of us do not see, let alone, feel, we are, indeed, like the beautiful flowers popping up everywhere in spring. Most of us don’t feel special in our lives. And because of those negative feelings, self-destructive behaviors like eating disorders, self-injury and substance abuse come in to try to mask and soothe our wounds. We believe the lie and then spend all of our energy, time and thought into rejecting our natural state: beautiful and wonderful. The low self- esteem, with all of its torturous lies, becomes the dominant image. Scripture reminds us of the power of our self-perception in Proverbs 23:7:

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...”

But God doesn’t just leave us with that potentially dismal revelation, with no image to draw from. No. Instead, He, repeatedly, tells us who we are. But it’s up to us to believe or reject that information. And yes, throughout scripture, God frequently links us to such beautiful creations, like doves and flowers. Just check out the Song of Solomon.

“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys...”

Song of Solomon2: 1-2

“O my dove…let me see your form…for your form is lovely.”

Song of Solomon 2:14

Known as the book in the Bible, depicting a love relationship between two besotted young lovers, it’s also regarded as the relationship between us and God. God is the lovesick groom, passionately pursuing His beloved bride. And yes, it gets pretty steamy.

But, the overall tone of the book is how God views us. Just look how He speaks to us!

“Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”

Song of Solomon 4:7

“Thou art beautiful, O my love...”

Song of Solomon 6:4

So, by this revelation, why can’t we see ourselves as the incredible, beautiful, wonderful creation God has purposed us to be? It’s nothing we need to do, to acquire our value; there’s nothing we can do to make God love us. Our special uniqueness and love from God are already there!

You may not have had the experience of seeing yourself as a beautiful flower in your life. You may not have had the experience of feeling valuable, wonderful, and precious. Perhaps things like abuse, bullying and trauma have struck your life. I am so sorry for your suffering, that you were denied those assurances; you deserve to know and feel how special you are- especially, how special you are to God.

But you can choose to see yourself differently today. You can choose to agree with God’s view of you. Again, it’s who you already are. There’s nothing you can do to acquire your worth and loveable standing. No eating disorder, no behavior, no material possession and no amount of money, achievement or status can create your value. It’s redundant. You’re valuable as is. You already are this!

“…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

Matthew 6:28-30

And, if you can’t quite “get there” yet, you can start, right now, with your faith and build upon it. Daily affirmations have become more of the rage recently in positive thinking and achieving results. Why not, then, apply God’s Word, to yourself, as the ultimate affirmation?

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:9-11

You may not be there yet, but are, indeed, going “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Don’t give up on yourself. Allow God’s Word to seep into you; allow it to reveal your true identity!

Your life experience may have left you feeling like an unwanted skunk, but I believe, with God, you can experience your true, incredible identity. And I believe it will only be a matter of time before you, yourself, repeat our favorite little skunk’s word:

“You can call me Flower if you want to. I don’t mind.”

Be blessed and blooming in every area of your life!

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse