The Thing About Esther...

Today, like everyday, I looked in the mirror and started sorting my appearance out. Firstly, I noticed the really annoying boil that seems to be growing on my chin, the fact that I felt too tired/poorly last night to take off the remainder of my mascara therefore it was smudged under my eyes like some sort of panda. I then began noticing the more obvious things- the fact that my hair is so bright that I'm pretty sure people squint a little bit when they see me in the distance. I noticed the paleness of my skin, how I'm still asked by close friends if I 'have enough vitamin D' in my life. I do for the record. I then looked at my body-  my moles, my height, the random little bruises and marks I have on my legs. I'm really far from perfect. But three years ago when I looked at that same girl's reflection, I wasn't so content with my appearance. I stood out. I always have. In every photo of me as a baby, as a child, as a teenager. I've always been the really skinny, really blonde girl that likes to smile a lot.
Now for the people that ever hear my testimony, you will know that being 'different' is a battle I've always felt the need to fight. I hated it so much because 'why couldn't I be like the other girls in my class?' 'why can't I dye my hair?!' 'why can't I have a fake tan?' Ha, can you imagine me with a fake tan?! The point is that every girl, every young person that feels like they're a little bit weird or different or feels like a massive outcast, I totally get you because I've been there.

A character I love in the bible, who I feel is almost slightly underestimated/unheard of is a girl called Esther.
Now Esther was a beautiful young Jewess, a girl who was raised by her older cousin when her parents died. The King of the Persian empire (Xerxes) chose Esther to be his new queen.
To cut a long story short, Esther found out that genocide was about to be inflicted on her people. So going against every rule, everything that the society practised, everything that the King stood for being that 'every man should bear rule in his own house.' (Esther 1:22)
 Esther goes against that and confronts the King. Something that was so unacceptable and resulting in death was challenged. She stood up for her identity, her people, her beliefs.

The thing about Esther (see how I linked that with my title?!) is that she stands out from the other girls. Even when the King was choosing his new queen, he noticed her beauty amongst all the other females. She was noticed and so much so that she has spent thousands of years being a representation for how, I believe, women should behave.

Now not long ago I wrote a Facebook status about being different, about not having to fit in with everybody else. The story before that status was this- as I scrolled through endless amounts of tweets about 'going clubbing' 'pre-drinking' 'the gym' and several other passive aggressive 'statements' by girls all close to my age, all living in different parts of the country, I couldn't help but notice how everyone's idea of a good time was exactly the same as the next person...but not for me.

The day I committed my life to Jesus was the day I committed my life to never, ever being like every other young person that walks past me in the street. Now I'm not saying I'm completely different to every young person. Of course not. The majority of my friends have been people that are just like me. But what I mean is that when you follow Jesus you suddenly commit yourself to a life of standing out, standing up and standing firm. I no longer have to fit in with these ridiculous, social stereotypes that are moulded in to young people's livelihood.
I'm so proud that, like many other Christian young people, I can stand up and say 'well actually I don't believe in that.' And it's not just about what we don't do and what we won't do...It's about what happens to us when we do give our lives to something far greater than what society tells us. Jesus.
That Facebook status I wrote received a very positive response. A lot of people messaging me. I was almost slightly baffled by the response. But the reason it was so popular was because people get it. We as the younger generation, even the older generation realise how in today's life if you don't fit in you get out. You're not attractive or cool or popular if you go about things a little differently.

Self value is a very beautiful and honourable thing to obtain. So yes, when I look in the mirror tomorrow I'll notice all the flaws and parts of me that do stand out in a crowd. But glory be to the God who uses people's identities so that they can turn to the world and say 'I am so proud to love a God who relishes in my image and my identity.'
I want to be like Esther for every time I feel the stereotypes aren't glorifying Jesus' name. For every time a person or a situation isn't being valued enough. For every time I, myself don't feel valued or respected enough.

So here's to every person that stands out from the crowd and uses Jesus' teachings as a way of freedom, not as a way to fit in with everybody else.

Here here.