“Everyone picks the butterfly,” was the simple phrase that started an important talk between Rachel Macy Stafford and her young daughter. It was part of a challenge to choose a favorite insect, without picking the popular butterfly. And then came a very different question: “Am I OK? I mean, am I fine? Sometimes I feel different,” asked the 7-year-old. Fortunately, Stafford’s daughter’s favorite insect, the firefly, provided a beautiful metaphor for the power of the children who shine from within. Stafford bent down to her daughter and said, “When I was your age, I felt different too. I felt uncomfortable, self-conscious. One boy said really cruel things about the way I looked. He said I didnt belong. His words hurt me for a long, long time.” She went on, “You mentioned that you love the firefly. Well, I think youre a lot like a firefly. You know why?... Because you shine from within. Not everybody sees it, but I do. I see it. And my job is to protect that light. So when people say mean comments that squelch that light, I want you to tell me. I will protect your light by listening and loving you, my brave, courageous, and unique little firefly.” Stafford writes, “as weeks have passed, I havent been able to stop thinking of our firefly talk and the timing of this message. The end and the beginning of each school year can be hard for kids, especially the Fireflies -- those who shine from within. And its that time -- time for back-to-school outfits, team tryouts, classroom assessments, and after school clubs. The Butterflies will be noticed. So brilliant. So colorful. Their talents so obvious. But let us not forget the Fireflies.” “Maybe you know a Firefly,” says Stafford. “Maybe you love a Firefly. If you do, please dont wait. Dont wait for someone to hand him an award or a give her a certificate to make their talents and gifts ‘official.’ That day may never come.” Instead, tell them: “I see your light. I see your light, my brave and courageous Firefly. You shine from within. And regardless of whether anyone else sees it -- you know its there, and I know its there.” “Keep making your magic. And just you wait. Someday the world is going to see what I see. And your light will be so beautiful, so brilliant, so bright that the world is going to stop and wonder where such a light comes from. And you and I will both know that light, well, its been there all along.” Stafford, who runs the blog The Hands Free Revolution, is the author of “Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters! -- to learn more, visit amightygirl/hands-free-mama For a lovely picture book that reaffirms how each person has a special brilliance all her own, check out Rosie Sprouts Time to Shine for ages 4 to 8 at amightygirl/rosie-sprout-s-time-to-shine For more Mighty Girl stories for children and teens about the value of being yourself, visit our Individuality” section at amightygirl/books/personal-development/values?cat=338
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 19:28:15 +0000
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