MR. POSSUM IS BEAUTIFUL, YOU TOO

Last night, I looked out the back door, stepped forward, then backward to look again. What is that? I stared in amazement. It’s a possum, eating my cat’s leftovers.       I opened the door and turned on the light to get a closer look. His snout is long  and pointy, his hair looks greasy and his tail looks scraggly with a kink . For a few minutes, he ignored me as he continued to eat without looking up.

I yelled, “Get away, get out of here.” He looked at me, slowly slunk under the lounge chair to hide and waited. I yell, “You’re ugly, you know that. Get out of here.” He slowly wobbled under another chair. I continued,  “You’re so ugly. Do you even know how ugly you are?” He hung his head as he slunk toward the end of the patio. I wonder if he understood what I said. Then I shut the door without bothering to see where he went. I guess he’ll finish the cat food after I turn the light out.

Hubby looked at me over his glasses, “You can expect a letter from the possum protection agency.”

The next day I thought about Mr. Possum all day. It seems we might have a lot in common. He was eating someone’s leftovers. I got fat eating all the leftovers. Whatever was left, I ate it. When I first yelled at him, he continued eating without looking up. How many times have I ignored others because I was more focused on my pleasure food instead of the people around me? Even if they were talking to me, I continued to eat until I finished. He slunk under the chair to hide and wait as I continued to insult him. How many times have I withdrew to hide and wait as life passed me by ? How many times have I looked in the mirror at my body and yelled at myself, “You’re ugly, you know that, you’re so ugly.” He hung his head down in shame as I yelled at him. How many times have I walked away from the mirror hanging my head in shame after a drunken binge of gluttony or after looking at all my rolls and cellulite cottage cheese? I shut doors on myself, doors leading to a free life. How many times have I finished consuming my pleasure food in secret darkness?

Yes, I do think the possum and I have a lot in common. I owe him an apology. I’ll put out extra cat food to make up for my insulting behavior. Oh, now I’m using food to make amends to a possum.  Is there any hope for me? I think I might be warped with a little kink myself. Lord, are You there?

 Yes My child, I’m here. Did you know I created the possum just as he is? I also created you just as you are. I made you beautiful and Mr. Possum too. He served My purpose as he helped you see the truth about your self talk. Every time you told yourself, “You’re ugly”, I whispered to your heart, “You’re beautiful and I love you,  for you are wonderfully made by Me.”  Every cell of your body I created. Everything I create is beautiful, even the possum. No longer tell yourself, “You’re ugly.” Instead say, “You’re beautiful because God don’t make ugly.”  See yourself through My eyes, My love.

— I praise You because I am fearfully  and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

— He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

— By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me- a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8

— My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. Song of Songs 2:10

— [Fear the Lord] And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 10:12