I ask my mom and dad for money they don't really have

to buy me clothes and shoes

to impress everyone around me .

I spend an hour each day

painting my face and smooothing my hair

to look like everyone around me .

My Bible rests on my nightstand-

no time to read or pray,

but I have time to watch the shows

and bop to the music

of everyone around me .

I went to the mailbox today

in the pile was a magazine with pictures of everything I want

and another one from a ministry

with pictures of

childrenb who have no shoes.

They wear tattered clothes

and rejoice for a bowl of rice,

but their smiles glowed with a beauty

unlike everyone around me .

It struck me:

I don't rejoice,

I want.

I am anxious, discontent, jealous, and insecure.

I let the Holy Spirit speak to me,

"Be like me:

Be like me,"

And suddenly I didn't want to be

Like eveyone around me .

I want to be like him.