's motd Sunday April 20, 2008 - Acceptance

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ACCEPTANCE

Sunday, 20 April 2008

I was different from everyone else at St. Louis Cathedral School in New Orleans. I didn't feel like I was, well, accepted. Oh, I tried so much to change. I tried to be more like my classmates but it really didn't work. This is a trait common to childhood. During our early years, we all look for acceptance. We want so much to be just like everyone else, especially during our school days. Let's face it, we want to fit in.

You know, like when you see one of those commercials on TV where all of these couples are sitting around, having a great old-time playing card games or something. Hey, I just never could relate to those images. I've always danced to a different drumbeat. But after a while, I got very down and tired of feeling like the peanut in a bowl filled with cashews.I got downright depressed about by inability to fit in and one Sunday, after mass, I stayed a while longer to do a little praying on my own. I asked God to make me like everyone else. You know, like with straight hair, instead of curly locks.

Now I have a tendency to pray out loud. And I didn't realize that as I was praying to the Lord, one of the church's priests was a few rows behind me and overheard my prayers.

He stopped me on the way out of the church and told me that he wanted to have a few words with me. He told me that God had given each of us unique gifts and that one day, I would have to learn to accept my gifts...and to embrace them.Heeding the priest wise words, when I got home, I made myself a Have To Accept List. The list began with the fact that I had to accept that I was funny. Hey, my mother was funny, maybe I got it from her. I loved telling and being told jokes. I loved doing crazy things and, most of all, I loved to make people laugh. (I still do!)I had to accept that I was loud. I don't know why I was loud. My parents certainly weren't loud. My brother Lenny wasn't loud. Maybe I was loud because I loved to listen to music so much when I was a kid. I listened to so much music and once I learned a song, I would sing right along with that tune on the radio, uh...loud! So loud is not bad. In fact, for me, loud has always been good! I had to accept that I was a ball of energy. I get out of bed in the morning like I'm a hummingbird that just can't wait to fly! Both my parents had lots of energy so maybe I got that from them.I had to accept that I was born to be wild. Hey, I was never lame and tame. I couldn't wait to try new things and be adventurous. I couldn't wait to hop on airplanes flying off to new places and see the world. I couldn't wait to visit some city were the temperature might be ten-below-zero and I'd still teach a big sweatin' class. It just excited me to make something new happen in my life!

And after I finished making my Have To Accept List, I studied it and was finally able to see that I was a pretty nice and unique fella!

Are you still looking for acceptance? I say you need to learn to accept yourself first. And when you do, others will be eager to have you accept them!Love,