One of a Kind-Uniqueness

“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)

Standing Out

We have all heard the phrase, “You are one of a kind.” We all have our favorite sport’s figure who stands out because of special talents. Tim Tebow is mine. He wasn’t the best athlete around, but he stood out to me as “one of a kind” because of what he stands for and all of his talents beyond the game of football.

Your YOUniqueness

John K John, a man from India, did a bible study on “The Power of Understanding Your YOUniqueness.” John described how it was to have the name John K John throughout his life. He was given many names from his friends. There was John to the second power, John squared, King John the second, John the Baptist, and many others. Later on in life, he asked himself a question. What name would he would give to his son. He decided to name his son Jonathan because Jonathan means, God has given.

Later, John moved to America and sent his son, Jonathan, to school. Jonathan came home one day telling his dad what everyone was calling him at school. John was speechless when Jonathan stated his friends called him John, which is short for Jonathan. John K John described how confusing this became in their lives because they no longer had unique names.

https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Series/337244?episode=1

Only One

John reminded me there is only one Susan who looks like me, sounds like me, teaches like me, thinks like me, eats like me, and so on. This is the power of all of us being unique and “one of a kind.” John K John points out the power of our uniqueness needs to be celebrated. You are the only you.

Who Is This?

John also revealed a story in this bible study about a four year old girl who was kidnapped while playing with her friends. She was taken to the Columbian forest and left for dead. Scared to death, the little girl fell asleep crying wondering what would happen to her. The next morning, she was awakened to noises which she quickly noticed where being made by monkeys. As she remained frozen, she watched monkeys and the monkeys watched her.

After the monkeys didn’t consider the little four year old a threat, they started bringing her nuts and berries. For ten years, this little girl lived in the forest and survived acting like a monkey, climbing like a monkey, swinging from tree to tree like a monkey, and living like monkeys do. One day she noticed something shining on the ground. As she went over to pick it up and study it, she couldn’t figure out what it was. She dropped it and tried to go on about her day, but the sun revealed it again. As she picked it up again, she put it in front of her face. She was shocked because she had not seen her face in ten years and was thinking, “Who is this?”

https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Series/337244?episode=1

What Do You Bring To The Table

Over fifteen years ago, my superintendent at the time, Frank Stegall, asked me a question I had never been asked before. As I was interviewing for a fourth grade position, Mr. Stegall looked me in the eye, and asked me this question. “What do you bring to the table?” My answer did not just roll off my tongue. It took me a minute to come up with my answer. I had never really thought about who I am as a person, teacher, or the talents and strengths I bring to the table. Mr. Stegall always had a way of making me think and look inside myself.

So what is the point that John K John is making to us all? Do we really know who we are? God created us uniquely with different talents and gifts to do his work. Do you use your uniqueness to be the “one of a kind” person God intended you to be?

Your Name

There are certain names, when I hear them, they either make me cringe or make me smile. What thoughts do you want others to have when they hear your name? As I look forward to my twenty fourth year of teaching, I want to be “one of a kind” for my students, parents, co-workers, and others. I pray for God to remind me daily to do his work using what he made me, Susan Browder, for.

So how do you want to spend your life? You can choose to be like someone else, or choose to be different. Be different! Make a difference using what makes you “one of a kind.”

Counting My Blessings,

Susan Browder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFT0zoKQWaM

What is in a Name-God’s Name

https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2019/05/06/what-is-in-gods-name/