My Shiny Nose

So last night's post was about lessons from a Biblical Christmas character. Tonight's is about a completely secular one.

I recorded the classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer special on our DVR for the children last night. This morning we had a few minutes between when they had gotten dressed and when we needed to leave for school so their reward was a video. They watched the first 20 minutes of Rudolph while I got dressed. I probably should have watched it with them as a refresher because on the way to school I was peppered with questions about why the others wouldn't let Rudolph play with them and why they made fun of his shiny nose. We stopped only 20 minutes in, so my compassionate children were quite concerned with Rudy's fate.

I honestly could not remember the plot of the movie, so we started singing the song to reassure them that in the end it all turned out OK. When we finished singing I saw a chance for a teachable moment and said something along the lines of "See, the very thing about Rudolph that was unique and caused others to tease him was the thing that made him special. You know how Mommy & Daddy tell you we can't wait to see God's plan for your life? Well, there are things about how He made you that may make you feel different...but they are the very things that are special and for the plan He has just for you."

I was feeling excited (and a bit proud) about this analogy that fell right in my lap until I heard the following from the backseat.
"What are yours, Mommy?"
"Hmm?"
"What are the special things about you that God has used for his plan?"

What a completely loaded question. I have answers that I could give to an adult...infertility, heart failure, my testimony...but I was completely stumped on how to answer this for a trio of 5 year olds. The things people always made fun of me for that they would understand...being very small, talking too much, being hyper, being nerdy and bossy...I am not sure how those things, specifically have contributed to God's plan for me. I can certainly point to the major challenges I have faced and how they have been used for my sanctification and to deepen my faith. But these things were a bit too deep for my audience. My mind was racing and I choked.

"Ohh. I love this song." I turned up the radio and dodged the question.