stand out

"I want to stand out, I want to stand tall

I want to be myself even if it means I won't fit in at all

I wanna be real, I wanna be me

Cuz everything I am is who I'm meant to be

I was meant to be free."

Ginny and Mom just got back from Mars Hill Leadership Camp yesterday. I was talking to my mom earlier and she told me that the JCC (Junior Counselor Coordinator) this year started telling her about how he has met every member of the young family except for my dad. I knew that after that sentence she was going to make some statement comparing the four of us, probably ending in "and Kelly was a lot quieter, but very sweet", or something like that. But the next words that came out of her mouth (or really, his) surprised me. He said "Morgan was great as a JCC, Katie was great and a lot of fun, but I really admire Kelly's walk with Christ." I was really shocked; we were JC's together but had never actually sat down and had a serious conversation or anything like that (that was still my shy, intimidated phase). Then my mind started to wonder about ways in which he would know that, or see that. Maybe he talked about it with my other siblings, maybe he saw it in how I acted. I really have no idea; but I thought that was so cool... that someone I "know", but don't actually know would see that. That just shows that you never know how people see you, who admires you, and why they admire you. I would never had guessed that. This is a great life lession: others' opinions aren't all that matter, but when it comes to living out your spirituality, you are meant to be an example of Christ in all you do and say. This specifically opened my eyes to the realization that even though you have a certain perception of yourself in comparison to others, even family (especially family), others will most likely see you in a completely different light. This is very encouraging to those who don't feel like they 'fit in' with their families, based on personality differences, etc. I know that my GOD made me the way I am and placed me in my family for a reason. And I think this story has given me a bigger hope of seeing that reason. Maybe I'm not the 'fun one' or the 'attention seeker' or the 'life of the party', but people see something else in me that they respect and admire. I'll take that over being the party girl any day. Each day I am growing a little bit stronger in my identity, and tossing my insecurities in being the odd-ball aside. This is a great feeling, and it is reassured through stories that all began at a Leadership Camp five years ago.