Why do people make fun of me?

I have always hated being teased.  I remember when I was a kid; one of my dad’s best friends sent him a letter in the mail.  At the end of the letter, the man drew a little devil, wrote my name, and pointed an arrow to it.  Though he was teasing, it hurt my sensitive little heart and I never forgot it.  It took me years to fully forgive this man and realize he is just a jokester! 

Also, throughout my childhood, I figured out that kids are mean!  My friends (who I am still friends with to this day) and I thought it was amusing to torture each other.   We would often pick on one person at a time by leaving them out, making mean comments to one another, and dis-inviting each other to birthday parties.  I am sure a lot of girls can relate to this childhood pettiness!  I was never a nerdy kid, but still got made fun of and left out a lot; aka popularity does not make you “bullet-proof” to teasing!

When I reached Junior High and High School; I became even more popular, yet I got teased all the time!  The boys in my school were cruel!  I am not mad at any of them anymore; I now realize that they had a lot of bad stuff going on at home, which most likely triggered a lot of their cruelty.  I have never been a skinny girl, but never much overweight!  The boys found it amusing to call “us girls” fat and ugly, just to be mean.  In junior high, one person spread a rumor that I stuffed my bra, which is a nightmare to a J-High girl!  Also, I have always had a round face.  I got teased about having a “double chin” all through middle and high school.  In fact, one guy somehow found a terrible pic of me (totally sporting a double chin), photo copied it, and passed it out at lunch!  The sad part of it all was that these boys were supposed to be our friends!  Further, people always made fun of me for my faith in Christ.  Some of the guys called me “Hitler” because I would encourage my friends (the pretty girls) not to “give them any!”  I actually find this amusing now! I was made fun of for trying to maintain sexual purity in high school.  My friends and I were nick-named “the church girls.”  I think this was initially meant to be an insult, but we embraced the name and still do!

The point of all this is that it does not matter what you look like or how cool you are; people will always find a way to make-fun of you!  I was a cheerleader my whole adolescent life, dated very popular guys, and still got teased constantly!  This does not mean that it does not hurt!  In fact, my husband is a big teaser (go figure)!  While he is not a “cruel teaser,” he often makes hurtful jokes unintentionally.  This has caused a lot of fights between us because I HATE BEING TEASED (probably because I was teased so much throughout my life)!!!  I don’t really think many girls like being teased (unless its flirty teasing of course)!   After many tears and arguments, my hubby finally gets it and tries not to tease. 

I can’t help but think of Jesus on the Cross!  Contrary to what some people may think; Jesus was a pretty popular guy during his three years of ministry.  Of course, there were “haters,”but most people loved Jesus.  Think about it; Jesus was cool; he accepted and loved the worst of people (thieves and prostitutes), he healed countless of diseased bodies, and taught things that people had never heard before.  Yet, at age 33, a lot of those same people turned on Jesus.  Of course, Judas betrayed Jesus to the Jewish “religious people” of the day and they arrested Jesus for no good reason!  In reality, they were threatened by Jesus!  Then, to make matters worse, a Roman official at the time brought Jesus and Barabbas (a murderer!!!) before the Jewish people.  It was tradition to let one prisoner go based off the people’s wishes.   When innocent Jesus and the murderer were placed next to one another, the Jewish crowd (Jesus’ own people) asked for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus.  Some of the same people that “loved” Jesus a few days ago just followed the crowd.  They all roared, “CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM!!!”   I cannot imagine the emotional anguish Jesus must have felt!!!!

Then Jesus (still completely innocent) was beaten and literally nailed to a wooden cross.  The pain must have been excruciating, but perhaps the worst part was people emotionally torturing Jesus.  The Roman soldiers spit on Jesus and mocked (aka – teased) him by saying; “If you really are the son of God, why don’t you have the angels get you down off that cross!”  They laughed at him while he hung on that cross, brutally beaten, bloody, and emotionally scared.  I have to say, I have never been made fun of or teased this bad!!!  Yet, his last words before dying (for us sinners) were, “forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”  OH MY GOSH!!! I think I would have wanted to see everyone of them GO DOWN!!!! 

If you are facing bullies, being poked at, being teased, feeling alone, feeling rejected, feeling betrayed, and emotionally scared; you are not alone!  Everyone has been there and your Savior understands your pain!!!!  Remember, that three days later, Jesus rose from the dead.  He is now seated next to God and rules and reigns the world.  If people are teasing you now, especially for being a Christian, just imagine your future award!   Things will turn around for you because “If God is for you, who can be against you?”

Please leave your comments and/or questions…I would love to encourage or dialogue with you!

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