The Gift Of Acceptance

Yesterday was my birthday.

I would like to thank all of you who sent text messages, posted shout outs on social media, and called to celebrate me. Let me especially thank each of you who sent cards, money, and other gifts. I am overwhelmed by your kindness and inspired by your appreciation. And for those of you who may have missed the opportunity to join in the celebration, let not your heart be troubled. There is still time LOL.

I try to spend as much time as I can on my birthday each year reflecting on my journey. I try to assess my relationships, evaluate my choices, and ponder my direction. And with every passing year, I grow increasingly grateful for how God continues to order my steps. Despite me, God continues to bless me. God has certainly kept the promise that he made in Ezekiel 34:27: “there shall be showers of blessing.” I must pause and give him praise: God has showered me with blessings!

One of the blessings that I received very early in life was the gift of acceptance. I was reminded of that gift while flipping through an old scrapbook. The photo you see above leaped off the page and into my spirit . Moving from left to right, that is me, my Dad (Rev Joseph Robinson, Jr), my younger brother (Rev. Jason Lawerence Robinson), and my oldest brother (Jonathan Maurice Robinson). I guess I was about ten years old. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Tis true!

I have always been different. If you look very carefully at the photo, you will see that my two brothers have on light blue shirts and dark ties. As I recall, that was the uniform that my Dad established for that photo session. But as you can see, my compliance only went so far. I wore the light blue shirt. But I decided to indulge my sartorial instincts and don a light blue tie and a green plaid jacket, in direct violation of the established protocol. Neither my mother or my oldest brother remember much about the details of that day, but I do recall my Father asking me if I wanted to take my jacket off and switch ties to look like everyone else. Now if you knew my Father, he really didn’t ask questions as much as make demands. LOL. But for whatever reason, he let me keep my outfit on, and still be included in the photo.

Little did I know then, but what my Father gave me on that day long ago was the gift of acceptance. He did not suffocate my individuality or quash my burgeoning sense of style. He gave me permission to be myself, and to express my uniqueness without fear of reprisal. If I wanted to wear a green plaid jacket that matched absolutely nothing and no one else in the photo, well…go right ahead.

Pop, I never thanked you for that. Thank you.

It was an incredible gift. On that day long ago, you made me comfortable standing out. On that day long ago, you taught me to trust my instincts. On that day long ago, you helped me understand that it was okay to choose for myself. And on that day long ago, you instilled the confidence that I did not have to be like anyone else in order to be accepted and included.

Sadly, far too many of us are under the impression that we have to be someone other than who we are to receive love, gain acceptance, or acquire blessings. Like Rebecca and Jacob in the scripture, we assume we have to dress up in someone else’s clothes to achieve our objectives. In Biblical times, a Father’s blessing was handed down to his eldest son. The blessing not only included material resources, but spiritual favor as well. As such, it was highly coveted. As the youngest of two sons, Jacob was ineligible for his Father Issac’s blessing. But at his mother’s recommendation and with her guidance and support, they both decided to trick Issac to secure his blessing. This is what they did:

Rebekah took the dress-up clothes of her older son Esau and put them on her younger son Jacob. She took the goatskins and covered his hands and the smooth nape of his neck. Then she placed the hearty meal she had fixed and fresh bread she’d baked into the hands of her son Jacob. He went to his father and said, “My father!”

“Yes?” he said. “Which son are you?”

Jacob answered his father, “I’m your firstborn son Esau. I did what you told me. Come now; sit up and eat of my game so you can give me your personal blessing.” Isaac said, “So soon? How did you get it so quickly?” “Because your God cleared the way for me. Isaac said, “Come close, son; let me touch you—are you really my son Esau?” So Jacob moved close to his father Isaac. Isaac felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice but the hands are the hands of Esau.” He didn’t recognize him because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau’s.

Genesis 26:15-23

Jacob dressed up as his brother—because that is the only way that he thought he could get blessed. And many of us do the same thing. We dress up in whatever clothes, attitudes, behaviors, or mindsets that are trending, thinking that if we look like whoever, dress like whoever, sound like whoever, or act like whoever, we can get what they have. But dressing up like someone else only brings pain, conflict, and confusion. It didn’t work for Jacob, And it won’t work for you. Even though his scheme was successful, Jacob paid a heavy price for his deception. Later, he would say that he had a “hard life.” (Genesis 47:9). It’s hard enough trying to be yourself, let alone someone else.

Listen: you don’t have to be anyone else for God to bless you.

Accept where you are, what you have, how you look, and what you like.

Acceptance is always the starting point for influence, favor and peace.

The gift of acceptance is the best gift anyone can ever give, and the best gift that you can ever receive.