NOT like everyone else?

Today while waiting at the drive-thru-window for our food, I looked inside the "restaurant" (if you call Taco Bell a restaurant) and saw about eight high school girls waiting to order.  What struck me immediately was how much all the girls looked alike.  Same hairstyle, same color, same style of clothes, same make up... same everything. 

I immediately thought of when I was in high school and how I always wanted to fit in, to be like everyone else and not stand out.  I don't recall going to extreme measures to fit in like falsifying who I was or wearing the most trendy things just because everyone else was even if I didn't like it.  But I do remember that underlying desire to be accepted. 

Then I thought of my girls.  Oh, how I want them to stand out!  I want them to stand up for their friends in a crowd, show people grace in all circumstances, be excited about learning new things and show their true character in all that they do.  I want them to fall within the loose boxes of what is acceptable so they can manage life in our society.  But, I want them to also be sure enough in themselves to not be afraid of going against the "world view" when they know they should.  I want them to be strong enough in who they really are to do that.  And to do it with God's grace behind them. 

We talked to Soccer Girl just the other night about being graceful to her sister even when she feels like Lizard does not deserve grace because of her behavior.  We talked about how important it is to show people grace when they least deserve it.  I explained to her that I hope that others do that for me when I least deserve it.  

I think it is important for me as a mom to foster my children's character in such a way that they feel that fitting in is something they can do while NOT being like everyone else.  And I need to do that with God's grace behind me.