All The Colors In You

It's a mix.

Every night, as I tuck in my preschoolers, I get the same request, “Tell us a story, Mama!” This request inevitably comes after reading three books, singing two songs, and telling one scripture story. There are nights when bedtime has not come soon enough, and I duck out of telling a story. Other times, it may be only a ten-second-long story. For ex: “There once was a monster truck who liked to do tricks. He spent all day practicing. Then, after dinner, he called everybody to come and watch his show. He did an awesome show, and everyone cheered. Then they all went home to bed.” I know, earth shatteringly good. But some days, all you can say for the day is that you kept them and yourself alive, barely.

On other nights, more thought and effort go into the stories. Storytelling is such an effective way to teach lessons, and I always try to add one to my stories. I’ve found these impromptu, tell-as-you-go formats are a great way to discover new ideas for books I’d like to write. Today, I want to share one of those stories with you. Please keep in mind that this story is still in bedtime-telling mode. I have not finetuned it yet, but stick with it, because the lesson is one I think everyone should hear.

The request was for a story about a little brown car, so that is where we’ll start.

There once was a little brown car that was very sad. All his friends had bright, beautiful colors of their own, but he was just muddy old brown.

One day he decided that he would try to change his color. First, he tried to turn himself blue by smashing blueberries all over himself. That was too sticky, and besides, he already had a blue friend. He wanted his own special color.

Second, he tried turning himself yellow by rolling in the flowers and covering himself in pollen. That made him sneeze, and the bees followed him wherever he went. Besides, he already had a friend who was yellow. He wanted a color all of his own.

Third, Little Brown Car tried turning himself purple by tying purple balloons to his chassis. That made him float away! He didn’t want to be a plane! He just wanted to be a different-colored car! Thankfully, his little friend sparrow popped all the balloons. “It doesn’t matter,” thought Little Brown Car. “I already have a friend who’s purple anyway. I want my own special color.”

Fourth, the Little Brown Car tried to turn himself green by gluing grass all over his body. That was too itchy! Besides, he already had a green friend. Little Brown Car wanted his own special color.

Fifth, he decided he’d try on orange. He found a bunch of orange reflective tape from the safety shop and stuck it all over himself. That made him so bright that nobody could look at him! Besides, he already had an orange friend, and he wanted his own special color.

Sixth, Little Brown Car tried to turn himself black by rolling in coal dust at the mine. Oh no! He couldn’t stop coughing! "This will never work," he thought. Besides, he already had a friend who was black. Little Brown Car wanted his own special color.

Little Brown Car was ready to give up. He would never be anything other than muddy old brown. Then all of Little Brown Car’s brightly colored friends drove up.

“Little Brown Car, why do you keep trying to change your color?” they asked.

“You’re all so happy and bright,” he said. “I’m just this muddy old brown color. I want a bright color of my own.”

The brightly colored cars all looked at each other knowingly and told the little car to follow them to the paint shop.

“Do you know how your color of paint was made?” they asked the little car.

“No,” replied the little car.

“Well, let us show you,” said his bright, colorful friends.

They each put a drop of their own color onto a piece of paper and then handed Little Brown Car a brush. “Swirl the colors together,” they told him.

He began swirling the brush around the blue, yellow, purple, green, orange, and black, and as he did, his eyes began to widen. Those bright, beautiful colors were turning a warm, smooth brown.

“You see,” his friends said. “You are a special color. You’re a little bit of all the colors!”

From then on, Little Brown Car loved his special brown color. He was special just the way he was.

The End

You are special and unique just the way YOU are. It’s easy to compare yourself to other people and see only where you’re lacking. Take time to look closely at what makes you, YOU, and you’ll see a swirling mix of talents, skills, and things conquered and overcome– a vibrant mix of colors that may not seem bright and beautiful, but is nonetheless special and uniquely yours.

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