Sprinkles in a World Full of Vanilla

On Wednesday of this week, my sweet daughter Chloe came home from school to tell me that a teacher had paid her compliment. And this is what she told her...

“Chloe, you are sprinkles in a world full of vanilla.”

I have to say I quite agree with her on this one. SPOT on. And what a beautiful compliment. Few others could leave me filled with such joy. These are the great mama moments.  {Insert sappy music here.}

And that comment has so resonated with me this week.

What does it mean to BE sprinkles in a world full of vanilla?

It means to be set apart, unique, different, special.

We are set apart and made holy.

Leviticus 20:26 says, “You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.”

But here's the thing... it's going to take some intentionality.

This is going to be real work.

Because the world... our culture... screams just the opposite.
We live in a self-centered, me-focused society.

So to get different results... we need to start doing things differently.

Things that look less like the world and more like Jesus Christ.

Here are just a few ways we can BE sprinkles in a world full of vanilla:

• Say thank you
• Use first names as often as possible
• Let drivers cut in line in front of you
• Forgive before an apology is offered
• Smile at every person you pass – regardless if they offer you a smile first
• Use your phone to make personal phone calls instead of texting
• Invite others to dinner – just because
• Send hand-written cards
• Say hi to strangers in the grocery store
• Make eye contact
• Put your cell phone away during dinner with your family
• Share what God has been revealing to you with a close friend
• Pray for the needs of others
• Pray with others as often as possible
• Date your spouse
• Leave encouraging notes for strangers in public places
• Pay for the meal of the patron behind you in the drive-thru lane
• Sing and be silly with your children
• Thank a teacher for their commitment to teaching
• Overcome jealousy by verbally praising the opposition
• Refrain from using the words, “It's not fair”
• Don't expect kindness from others... be kind anyway
• Pray for your children's future spouses
• Hug tightly
• Keep your promises
• Remember birthdays
• Don't ignore the prompting to contact an old friend when they come to mind
• Choose a word to live by every year instead of a list of new year's resolutions
• Be an intense listener
• Be a radical giver
• Love difficult people
• Say “I'm sorry” as often as necessary
• Keep a prayer journal
• Be on time
• Obey immediately
• Give worry over to God
• Serve selflessly
• Refuse to gossip
• Be honest about your weaknesses
• Tell the truth
• Honor your parents
• Never let your children hear you talk negatively about your spouse
• Use your words to build others up
• Remind yourself of God's love for you often
• Learn how to fail well
• Accept constructive criticism with grace
• Pray with your family at meals in restaurants
• Wake up early as often as you can to see the sunrise
• Hold hands with your spouse
• Don't hold grudges
• Congratulate others often
• Read your Bible daily
• Let people off the hook for not being perfect
• Practice saying "no" sometimes
• Laugh out loud and often
• Hold doors for others
• Sit and visit with people
• Include others in your circle of friends

The list could literally go on and on.

YOU fill one in!

Go ahead. Get creative. We serve a pretty creative God, you know.

Craig Groeschel says in his book, “Weird”, that...

“Too often our desire to fit in, to belong, to conform and be considered normal eclipses our desire to follow God and do what's best. We choose popular standards instead of the habits that lead to holiness.”

God is calling us to holiness.

He is not calling us to be perfect or popular... but holy.

He is calling us to be sprinkles in a world full of vanilla.

The world doesn't need more vanilla.

It's so plain... so predictable... so “normal” and average.

We were called by God.

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

Together let's practice being sprinkles in a world full of vanilla.

Together we can change the world!

Praise Jesus?  Yes... praise Jesus!

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,