You Can Call Me Flower...

I love to watch the animated Disney classic, “Bambi.” What can I say? I’m a sucker for those cute woodland critters.

 I especially love Flower, the bashful skunk who befriends our famous deer. My favorite scene is when these two characters first meet. Ever the curious fawn, Bambi has just discovered an actual flower.

So, he’s been hanging out in the flower patch. And that brings us to that famous meeting. Bambi bumps noses with our skunk. And what is Bambi’s response when eyeballs are staring at one another?

“Flower!”

This is where, Thumper, our deer’s precocious rabbit friend, crackles with laughter at this “mistake,” and immediately attempts to set Bambi straight.

But our adorable skunk shyly insists, “He can call me Flower if he wants to. I don’t mind.”

Awwwwwwwh!

And so, from that time on, our sweet skunk is named “Flower.”

In spired by this Disney classic, I started thinking about flowers; they represent beauty, something precious and valuable.

Some of us have difficulty seeing, let alone, feeling, how we are as wonderful as those flowers. We often don’t feel special in our lives. And because of our negative experiences and feelings, self-destructive behaviors like eating disorders, self-injury and substance abuse often come in, offering to mask and soothe our wounds. We spend our energy, time and thoughts rejecting our natural state: beautiful and wonderful. The low self- esteem, with its torturous lies, becomes our dominant self- image. Scripture reminds us of how powerful self-perception can be:

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

Proverbs 23:7

God repeatedly tells us who we are. However, it’s up to us to believe or reject that information.

Throughout scripture, God compares us to doves and flowers. Check out the Song of Solomon.

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

Song of Solomon 2: 1-2

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

Song of Solomon 2:14

This Book of the Bible depicts the relationship between its two besotted young lovers; it is also regarded as the relationship between God and us. God is the lovesick groom, passionately pursuing His beloved bride.

And yes, like that of a Harlequin romance novel, it gets pretty steamy.

But, we’re incredibly significant to God. 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, why can’t we see ourselves as the incredible, beautiful, wonderful creations God has purposed us to be?

No, we may not have had the experience of feeling valuable, wonderful, beautiful and precious. Perhaps things like abuse, bullying and trauma have struck our lives.

But we can choose to see ourselves differently today. We can choose to agree with God’s determination. It’s who we already are, as is.

“Since you were precious in my sight… I have loved you…”

Isaiah 43:4

“I have chosen you and have not cast you away.”

Isaiah 41:9

Our life experiences may have left us feeling like an unwanted skunk, but, with God, we can experience our incredible identities.

So, sweet Flower, be blessed and blooming, in every area of your life!

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryle Cruse