What I Learned from the Good Doctor

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." - Dr. Seuss

There is a little house I often pass on my walks through the neighborhood. It's just a small cottage, but it captivates me. It's tucked behind a slightly crooked fence made of cut branches. A weathered wrought iron bed graces the porch. Every so often I'll catch sight of a kitty curled up on its ruffled spread that has puddled onto the floor. The view of the front entrance is somewhat obscured by a climber rose spreading haphazardly over its arched support, but the lavender portal that stands ready to welcome all who would enter, is quaintly sweet and totally worth the wait.

I think the owner of this house is someone who understands the good doctor's sentiment. In a sea of homes grander in scale and more modern in architecture, this house dares to be un ashamedly and unapologetically itself. I love that! Instead of trying to imitate a Farmhouse, a Bungalow, or a Colonial, it simply presents itself as what it is... a charming cottage. And do you know what? Only a cottage can truly do that.

Sometimes it seems we live our lives too much concerned with emulating what we see and following what others are doing. Perhaps we have social media to thank for that. "Ours" vs. "Theirs" is all over the internet, and the comparisons don't stop with Facebook. Wondering how to recreate the latest decorating trends? There are blogs for that. Trying to decide what to include in your capsule wardrobe? Check Instagram. Confused about which direction to go for your wedding reception? Pinterest to the rescue! I'm not dogging social media. I'm really not. There's an incredible volume of material out there with which to garner inspiration. I have Pinterest boards myself, and have used them lots of times to generate ideas and to spark creativity... even to find out how to DIY my own version of a farm table, and, yes, to peruse the elements of a rustic chic barn wedding :)!

The thing I have to be careful of is not letting the inspiration become the "I've gotta have that, wear that, do that," form of imitation that robs the uniqueness out of me. God made me a one-of-a-kind. He made you a one-of-a-kind too. No two people on the face of the earth, not even identical twins, have the exact same fingerprints. A God who was so concerned with us as individuals to make even our fingerprints unique, surely would like to have You and Me be who He made us to be and not some replica or mini-me version of someone else He made to be uniquely Them.

There's a lot of pressure out there on us to follow the trends, to be like, look like, dress like, or decorate like everyone else. For goodness' sake, favorite Style Makers on Instagram even include "shop my house" and "shop my style" posts to ensure that you and yours can look just like them and theirs. Don't get me wrong, I'm free to replicate decor and apparel I find on the internet and in magazines if I so desire. I'm even encouraged to do so by the media that drives that machine, but I don't have to internalize that pressure and spend both my money and my time trying to become someone I'm not. I'm still free to do my own thing and rock my own style even if it isn't Pin-worthy. That's a good thing though, isn't it?

Think about the ultimate Creator for a moment. God is infinitely imaginative. He never experiences inspiration "block." Of all the people He has EVER created, you are a singular masterpiece... His masterpiece... no carbon copies here, nope! In the first chapter of the book of Jeremiah, we find God speaking to the prophet. He tells Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart." God did the same thing with you and me. He tailor made a combination of gifts, talents and abilities that are so uniquely you, there is no one else out there in this great big world quite like you. He planned it that way. He wants YOU in this place and this time to do the distinctive work He has designed for you to do. No one else will do that work quite the same way as you... and isn't that wonderful!

Doesn't it just kind of blow your mind that long before you ever even came on the scene, God thought about you, pondered over you, thrilled in forming you... a bit of this, a dash of that. You would be artistic and shy, have sandy hair and a gentle mannerism, you would love animals, playing the piano, and hiking outdoors. I mean, think about that. How incredible is it that God took such care in designing each of us just the way He wanted us! There really is no one who is YOUER than you!

I think God desired to make each of us as unique individuals not only because He enjoys each of us the way we are, but also because He knows that there needs to be someone just like us who is capable of reaching others out there in the world who will relate better to us than to anyone else. Our unique personalities and characteristics, the WAY we go about things, the WAY we articulate ideas, the WAY we interact will fill a void or a need in someone else's life like no one else can. That's important to God. None of this was an accident. All was planned by our heavenly Father for both His delight and ours and for the well-being of others and the furthering of His kingdom.

Though the old proverb says: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," I need to remember that when I try too hard to be an imitation of someone else, I have done a double disservice. Not only have a infringed somewhat on another's creativity and purpose, but I have also squelched my own a bit. Whoever said there was one best way to dress, one best way to decorate, one best way to teach, to write... to whatever?

I can still take inspiration where it can be found, but I want to try putting my own signature in there as well. It seems almost silly to say, but the world needs me in it. The world needs you in it too. We have skills and talents to offer that no one else possesses. It's true. If you doubt that, check out Jeremiah 1 for yourself. Those aren't my words. They're His. We can believe it, take it to the bank, because those words come from the same God who says He knows the very number of hairs we have on our head, the One who calls us each by name because He knows us... and why shouldn't He? We are, each of us, His unique creation.

Before we jump too enthusiastically on someone else's bandwagon, let's take stock of what WE possess. Let's revel in our singularity, in the things that make us one-of-a-kind. Let's rejoice that God loved us so much He wanted the world to experience, and share in, the exact same things He dreamed for us when He fashioned us and knit us together in our mother's womb. Let's appreciate not only the contributions God wants us to make to His world, but also to recognize and appreciate the contributions other's uniqueness brings as well.

If God made you a cottage (speaking metaphorically, of course)... then be a cottage, unashamedly and unapologetically. Be the best cottage you can be and be thankful. You are blessed and you are a blessing in return... for you, though perhaps unaware, bring countless joy to others just by being you.