One of Mary Ellen’s long time questions is, “What’s your favorite color?” The game can be fun, or it can become completely exasperating. When she was younger, she would get hurt if your color was not her color. The feelings on the cuff crying because she wanted them to be the same. Affirmation, value, separation, acceptance, love, and more all tied to the small question.

When she would color a picture, she would ask, “What color should I use next? Do you like this color?…” This drove Charles crazy!

Finally, one day he had enough. He told her, “I don’t care which color you use next.” Tears flowed. She argued that he should tell her which color to use. He stood firm, “No.” She continued to cry hysterically. He repeated, “No!” All while I am trying to decide when and how and if I should intervene. As the confrontation escalated, finally, I said, “Enough.” Charles over the top of me continued, “Mary Ellen quit crying. It does not matter what color I want you to use. It is your picture. You chose the color that you like. Chose the color that makes you happy.”

He was right. I couldn’t argue. Mary Ellen was still completely unmoved from her insistence that he tell her what color to use. He would not budge. He repeated, “It is your picture. I does not matter what someone else thinks. You decide.”

I do not even remember how that event resolved. Obviously, at some point she quit crying and yelling at her brother. He never relented and never raised his voice again.

Now, she colors. She never asks which color to use. She still asks, “What’s your favorite color?” She will then add quickly, “My favorite color is blue.” If you tell her, “I don’t have a favorite color.” She will insist you chose just for now. If you tell her “green”, “yellow”, or “red”, she will say, without fail, “That is a pretty color too.” No more theatrics and no more crying. All is good.

It is okay that we are different. In fact it makes the world a more beautiful place. We are the colors of the world-the shades and hues.

One night when we were all out together bowling. Trent and Mary Ellen colored this together. The beautiful thing is, even though others would have this same page, no one’s finished product would be just like this one. It is beautiful and unique and made with love. It stays on my refrigerator as a reminder of just that.

We are each beautiful and unique and made with love. As we grow and mature we can see our differences and celebrate each other!

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5: 13-14

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Titus 3:3-8

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

Galatians 5:22-23