This morning I stopped by a local bakery to pick up some breakfast yummies.
Immediately, I recognized the staff who asked for my order. I have seen her a few times before. Except today she had blue hair. I mentioned that her hair looked cool. And it really did.
Initially, I thought she had dyed her hair. But then I realized they were hair extensions. Rolled into a big bun. Bright blue. She also pointed out to me the rings in her tightly woven braids. Some multiple rings wound outside the black braids on her head that goes to meet the big blue bun. How unique is that?
Olivia: “Really? I wasn’t sure. And the man before you in line said it looked okay too. I just wasn’t sure if it looked ok or not. ”
Then that other man, stuck his head around the area I was standing and said, “I told her it was okay. See, you thought it was okay, too. We should take a vote.”
And then something just stirred up inside of me. (Maybe it’s because I have daughters.)
Me: “Are you kidding? Olivia, you don’t have to wait for someone to tell you how to look. Only God has that say. And He made you and your hair look just fine. Don’t get approval from other people.”
Her eyes got totally wide.
Olivia replied: “I really, really needed to hear that today. I just didn’t think I looked okay.”
Basing our self-esteem on extrinsic affirmations screams I trust the the world’s approval more than God’s opinion of me. So I asked Olivia if she went to church. My very favorite question to ask people. If they answer no…….to me, it’s a like a door to walk through and introduce Jesus.
Olivia: “I go to a nearby Baptist Church, and I sing in the choir every week. ” Then she lowers her voice: “I don’t sing very well, but I still sing.”
Me: “Olivia, I sing and lead Kids Worship for the little ones at my church every week. This is totally divine appointment. I love praise and worship songs too. This, Olivia, is why God put us together this morning.”
I took her hands and we prayed right there with other patrons staring at us wondering. Truthfully, I was holding up the line. But Jesus is worth a small inconvenience, isn’t He?
Sometimes, we have a not-all-together morning. Before I stepped into the bakery, I had been experiencing a not-all-together morning. So to be able to slip into there and simply encourage Olivia was a tremendous joy. In our convo, no Bibles were distributed or Bible verses contributed. Just cool hair, Olivia, and hey, could I pray with you.
To lift in Christ requires very little exertion, exercise, and experience. Lifting individuals we encounter means reminding them of this:
What God believes is cool about you > What the world thinks is cool about you
Lift the hearts of those you meet…….closer to Jesus than closer to other people’s approval. Those blue hair extensions turned out to be a an unexpected blessing. Who knew breakfast was better with blue hair and Jesus?