We usually publish new content for you in the early morning hours on Sundays; however, we HAD to release this week’s post a few days early, because Friday the 13th gets labeled unfairly. Western culture has defined today’s date on the calendar with words like “unlucky” for centuries. In fact, the History Channel on A&E did two very interesting pieces on this very thing. ONE discusses the history behind superstitions involving the number thirteen in general. And the OTHER is specific to the day Friday the 13th.
Even more important than numbers and dates, YOU get labeled unfairly, too. But we have a choice in the matter. Let’s flip the script, shall we?
we all get labeled with something
I think I’m sensitive to Friday the 13th because the world has unfairly stuck labels on ME, too. Maybe you can relate? Most of mine echo from way back in elementary or high school, and they linger in my head even if no longer in my heart. Some of those labels were benign enough on the surface. “Teacher’s pet” or “goody-goody two shoes”, for example. Others were more openly hurtful like “dog”. And just to educate our younger readers, “dog” at that time was not complimentary like “dawg” is now. It described an exceptionally ugly girl, as in “she’s a real dog”.
What worldly labels do YOU carry around with you? Perhaps yours is “perfect PTA mom” or “life of the party”. Maybe someone labeled you an “Enneagram 3” or a Myers-Briggs “IFSP”. Your label might be “drop out” or “hot mess”. Maybe it’s “hack”, “snowflake”, “hater”, “nutjob”, or “boomer”. Someone may have labeled you a “victim”. Or you’ve been branded an “addict” or “ex-con”, and you harshly play that over and over in your mind. Regardless of what worldly label we’ve received, each one makes a statement about us, doesn’t it?
unlucky or cursed?
Did you know it is possible to flip the script on whatever labels you wear? My dad taught me this – every Friday the 13th. I could have succumbed to the superstition that the day (and therefore I) was “unlucky” or “cursed” somehow. For example, my first name starts with the 13th letter of the alphabet. So does my dad’s. And my mom’s. The house address of my childhood home starts with “13”.
To take it even further, I turned thirteen years old on a Friday the 13th. Similarly, my dad turned thirteen years old on a Friday the 13th. My daughter missed the pattern by one day. Her birthday is actually April 12th, but if she had waited just one more day to be born on April 13th, guess what? Yep. Her thirteenth birthday would have fallen on a Friday the 13th. Dang independent kid with her own independent ideas.
my dad flipped the script
Friday the 13th gets labeled unfairly, so my dad flipped the script every opportunity. He always made a big deal out of it as a GOOD day. My dad made Friday the 13th a positive occasion to celebrate! For example, when I was little, that may have looked like extra dessert after dinner. It may have manifested as a later bed time to squeeze in more rounds of my favorite card game. At a bare minimum there was verbal acknowledgement of the specialness of the day and of each other.
Now that I am all grown up with kids of my own, my dad and I at least make a point to call each other every Friday the 13th. In fact, it has evolved into our own special game to see who can call who first. Sometimes we even act fancy and go out to lunch. I’m smart enough to know that some day my dad won’t be around to “celebrate” with me on these days, and I don’t take the opportunity for granted now.
my Father flipped the script, too
Much like my earthly dad, our heavenly Father flips the script, too. The world tries to stick us with labels like “condemned” or “lost”. “Broken”. “Discarded”. “Worthless”. “Unwanted” and “unlovable”. But you know what? God comes along and crosses that all out (intentional word choice). Author, John Rinehard, sums it up very nicely in “What God Thinks About You“:
“You are no longer darkness, but light in my Son. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). You are the light of the world, a city set on a hill (Matthew 5:14). I have called you (2 Peter 1:3). I have chosen you (Revelation 17:14). You are now a saint, a servant, a steward, and a soldier (Romans 1:7; Acts 26:16; 1 Peter 4:10; 2 Timothy 2:3). You are a witness and a worker (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 2:10). Through Jesus you are victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57), and you have a glorious future (Romans 8:18). You are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). You are an ambassador for my Son (2 Corinthians 5:20).”
live like you believe it
Bottom line? Friday the 13th gets labeled unfairly by our culture – and so do WE. But we can flip the script when we stop wearing the world’s labels and start identifying ourselves with God’s terms. So, stand tall, children of light. Be confident today, citizens of heaven. Live like you believe it, warrior daughters and sons of the King. You are forgiven, chosen and worthy. Above all, you are so very loved.
Adapted from original 9/13/2019 Facebook post. Image by Claire GIRAL from Pixabay.
