The Black Sheep. The Rebel. The Misfit

I am Stronger than the Storm is the most recent book collaboration I was a part of. It is a devotional for women that was released last month.  While preparing for my chapter, the words, Black Sheep, kept popping up.  I had never considered myself a black sheep and didn’t know where it was coming from. It was later brought to my remembrance a time when I was young and was called The Black Sheep by a relative. When I was young, I didn’t even know what that was so I ignored it and went about my life. It wasn’t until preparing this chapter, I remembered.

Someone called it a word curse meant to break me. Maybe that was true, but that is why you have to be careful of what you take on or what you respond to.  Even though I forgot about this statement, I realized that perhaps there was some truth to it.  You see, when I asked God to give me clarity about this and how it related to me and my story, He also revealed 2 other words: rebel and misfit.  I never thought that these terms fit me, but as I delved into it, I realized that perhaps it was me.

My thought process was always different from “the norm.” No matter how much I tried to fit in, I always stood out in some way. It was frustrating when I was younger, but I later, began to embrace it.  As I have matured, I have learned that we were NOT meant to fit in.  I was the black sheep, the rebel, the misfit simply because I was determined to break some curses and traditions. 

Coming from a town where teen pregnancies were the norm and losing your virginity very early was the thing to do, that was never my desire. I did not want to be a teen mom and was determined to experience life in a way I felt I was supposed to.  Finish school, live life, marry, have children, live life. Not everyone had this plan.  If they did, they didn’t follow through.  Therefore, I was different.  I was also one who could completely have the time of my life without drinking (or drugging) and that seem to be odd to people.  Coming from a family with some alcohol “concerns,” I wasn’t taking any chances with this becoming an issue for me.  I danced to the beat of my own drum and didn’t care who noticed.  I was the rebel, I was a misfit, The Black Sheep.    At times, I felt uncool for being different, but I couldn’t help myself. 

So, when I thought about why God wanted me to write about being the black sheep, I think it was because He wanted me to know 1) What someone may have meant for bad, He meant it for good ~Genesis 50:20, 2) Although I am in this world, I am not of the world (John 17:16), yet I can still make an impact, and 3) maybe there were some generational curses that needed to be broken and it would take a black sheep to do it.

I write this as an encouragement to you.

1. People may speak negatively over you, so be careful what you answer to, or how you perceive it. Sometimes word curses are meant to destroy you, but it’s on you how you take it and use it.
2. It is ok to be different. Embrace who you are, by doing so, you encourage others to do the same.
3. Sometimes rebelling is good. You sometimes have to destroy in order to rebuild. I had to, mentally, destroy what was considered “norms” to build my own identity. Being a black sheep only means that you chose to go against the grain.

I hope this helps someone. I felt the need to talk and write about it again for those who may be struggling with feeling odd and different.   If you want to read more and check out other stories by phenomenal women, click the shop “tab” to purchase the I AM STRONGER THAN THE STORM DEVOTIONAL. Be blessed yall!