I often find myself humming or singing Christmas songs even though the Christmas season has past. Such has been the case for a few days now.
Rudolph is one of my favorite claymation movies. What’s not to like? It’s packed with drama, intrigue, romance, and it ends, happily. Add in super catchy songs and for an hour you can forget all your cares.
The song that’s been playing in my head is sung by the “misfit toys” stuck on, well, the island of misfit toys.
Each of these toys has what they believe to be a “deformity” and no child could possibly love them due to their imperfection.
A choo choo, with square wheels.
A squirt gun that shoots jelly instead of water.
A cowboy who rides an ost-a-ridge (in my head, I sung that, hence the misspelling)
A fish that doesn’t stay afloat.
I think you get the picture. They’re all misfits.
On Christmas eve, the day they’ve been waiting for all year, the toys are huddled around a fire. There’s been a horrible snow storm and the toys believe they’ve been forgotten once again.
Poor Dolly is overcome with all the emotions. She just wants to be loved. She doesn’t want to stay on the island any longer. Through her tears, she remarks “I haven’t any dreams left to dream”.
But then in the distance, the toys hear Santa’s sleigh bells and see Rudolph’s nose. Santa sleigh lands, the toys happily jump into the bag, and off they go to their new adventure.
Yes, I’m smiling as I type this. It’s how I roll.
Maybe like Dolly, you find yourself in a place where you haven’t any dreams left to dream. I’ve been there more than once.
I typically find myself in this dreamless state when I’ve been beat down by life. More specifically, it’s when the life I’d imagined, didn’t happen.
This state of mind is the perfect setting for Satan to come in and start picking you apart.
That’s why we’re warned:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.“
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
One errant thought is all he needs to start feeding you even more negative thoughts. The nasty thoughts that tell you, you’re no good. You don’t have the talent. You don’t have the skills. You don’t have what it takes to do anything right. Nobody cares about you. You’ll never be good enough. He loves to see you defeated.
But, just like Santa made it through what seemed an impossible storm for to get to those toys, you have a Savior who knows your name. He chooses you. He chases you. He rescues you. He loves you.
Why is it so much easier to believe in a fictitious character over a God who created the person who in turn brought the idea of Santa to life?
Even after I found out Santa wasn’t real, I still desperately needed to believe that someone cared enough about me to listen to what I wanted.
Since I didn’t grow up in a God fearing/loving home, I didn’t know Jesus could have been that for me.
Maybe no one has ever told you that Jesus can be that for you. Someone who cares about every single detail of your life. Someone who cares to give you what you need, over what you want. Because, let’s face it, what we want is not always what’s best.
And just as the devil prowls around, Jesus is also seeking for those lost. He’s the good shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep.
““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.“
John 10:11 (NIV)
A good shepherd gives good gifts and has good plans for you. I’ve experienced both and I bet if you look back over your life, you have as well.
Friend, you’re no misfit. The dreams you have may not look exactly like you thought, but that doesn’t mean you’re forgotten, or unloved. It just means, there’s something better. I truly believe that. The waiting can be the hardest part.
You don’t know what storms lie ahead and you may not understand the timing. But that’s where faith happens. Don’t give up before “it” happens.
One day, you’ll understand, but in the meantime, keep moving forward. The best is yet to come and this gal is cheering you on!
Blessed to be Broken 
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