Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 10/26/2007

Question
Hey.

I'm Mary.  And well, I'm a Christian.  Before i get into my question, may I please share a bit of how I got saved...?

Well, at my old school, I was pretty much the loner.  I didn't have many friends, people were consantly teasing me, and it wasn't that funny kind of teasing that you see on TV.  To give you an insight of how bad it was, every day I would beg my mom not to take me to school.  I got into more then my share of fights with boys.  Yes, bigger, stronger, boys.  They made fun of my interests, my beliefs, (can you believe even though it was a Christian school, it was "uncool" to come from a Christian family?) and basically who I was.  So, I made up a new me, went with the "bad kids" and began to do things that, though not "bad" in today's standards, just plain wrong.

Well, my mom soon found out about my current state, so she finally pulled me out of that living hell of a school.  So, she put me into a school that was truly Christian.  For the first few months, I didn't know how to act.  To me, everyone was going to be the same as they were at my old school.  I did the exact same thing, and put up my "badgirl/tomboy" facade.

Well, my teacher was one of the best people I had ever met.  She started to witness to me, and helped open my eyes to the fact that not everybody is going to do something to me, and that the world isn't against me.  She slowly, but surely, guided my steps towards my best friend, Jesus.  I accepted him into my heart, and became a new person.

But, here's my problem:  I am known as the emo girl at school.  I don't mean to look sad and depressed all the time, but you know...it just happens.  Oh, I dont cut myself or do any of those weird things.  Actually, at home, I am known as the family comedian.  I am relaxed, sarcastic, and social.

At school though, it's like people expect me to be sad and depressed all the time.  I don't like that at all.  If I'm ever happy, people consider that as creepy.  I try my best to be myself, but I always fail.  I don't want to go back to being a facade girl again.

Please help.

Mary.

Answer
Hi Mary,

Thank you for this great question.  This may seem like a strange answer, but the best way to fix your reputation is to quit worrying about it.  Now, I don't mean that you should do strange things just to prove that you don't worry about it.  You see, when you worry about it, you focus on yourself.  Get your focus upon the needs and desires and passions of others.

1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.


If you focus upon what others need and want then it will help you to not seem so depressed and withdrawn.  Pray for the kids you go to school with and ask God to show you how you can be thier friend.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don