When was the last time you walked into a room of people and were immediately aware that you were different because of the color of your skin?
For me, it was today.
Actually, it’s every day as our squad of missionaries stick out like sore thumbs in foreign countries. But even when it’s just the 50 of us hanging out together in our living quarters, I am aware. The caramel color of my skin, the fullness of my lips and the coarse texture of my hair are daily reminders that I am different. Now with the understanding that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, the differences I once loathed are things I celebrate.
On Wednesday, God used me to help Yuliani (pronounced Ju-li-ani) celebrate her differences. This 11-year-old, Honduran girl is of African decent and looks different than all the other children at New Life Children’s Home. With skin that is darker and hair that is kinkier, Yuliani is sometimes teased by the other children living there because she doesn’t fit the norm of light brown skin and straight hair.
As Yuliani sat in between my legs, I combed through her hair looking for lice. There had been an outbreak at the orphanage and all the girls’ heads were filled with the pesky insects. It was tough combing through Yuliani’s hair with the fine-toothed comb, but I worked as gently as I possibly could. Though I found no lice, Yuliani’s hair was extremely dry and brittle from the lice-killing shampoo used on her hair. Her hair and scalp needed to be moisturized.
I went in search of olive oil or some type of cream for her hair but was unable to find anything. Then I remembered having a small bottle of cocoa butter in my purse. I began using it to moisturize her scalp, hair and skin. When she smelled the cream, the biggest smile formed her face and she exclaimed, “Que rico!”
As Yuliani inhaled the richness of the cocoa butter and its calming effect soaked into her skin, I braided her hair. Once I finished, she ran to look at herself in the mirror. She found a barrette and added it to the front of her hair – the perfect accessory for her new hairstyle.
She looked up at me with her big, brown eyes and gave me a huge smile that illuminated her chocolate brown skin. I could tell by the look on her face that she felt pretty and worthy of love – a feeling that all little girls her age should feel.
In that moment, Yuliani’s differences became something to celebrate. Not because the world deems this month as a time to celebrate black culture and history but because every day her heavenly Father celebrates her for the content of her character, not the color of her skin.
“What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail – even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.” Luke 12:6-7 (MSG)
Take a moment to reflect on the things that differentiate you from others and then celebrate them. For our heavenly Father makes no mistakes.
You were uniquely designed in His beauty and for His purpose.
