Picture day in high school was about a week or two before the start of the school year. My mom would traditionally wait until after the first couple weeks of school to buy us outfits for the coming year (I used to think she wanted us to stay in tune with fashion trends...see what the other kids were wearing... I later came to find out that she was just waiting for the back-to-school sale discounts to go even lower). I showed up for picture day wearing a blue and white striped rugby shirt – very wide horizontal stripes and a stiff collar – that I had received as a birthday gift that summer. I was skinny back then (picture PeeWee Herman minus the suit), so the fat stripes and ruggish styling made me look a little more substantial (either that or I looked like I just made a break from the prison chain gang).
While waiting for my turn in front of the camera, a girl who knew me from our freshman year made a very simple and short comment as she passed by, "You look good in that shirt." I can't even remember who she was (I was then, as I am now, horrible at remembering names - probably a direct result of moving from one state to the next every three to four years). Her anonymity notwithstanding, those six words had a profound impact on my 1oth grade year.
The first impact of the compliment directly benefited the GAP clothing store where I promptly purchased one of every rugby shirt color combination they had on the shelves, including a second blue/white striped one (heaven forbid anything should happen to ruin the "original"). I had a different rugby shirt for every day of the week, and two for Sunday. All of them went quite well with the white Levis Straus jeans (yes, white - blame Miami Vice) I had also purchased from the GAP.
Needless to say, rare was the day that I was found not wearing one of those rugby shirts. I had made some very close friends in our new neighborhood and have them to thank for most of the photo-documentation of that school year. As expected, I'm wearing a striped shirt in almost every picture.
But that compliment also had a more lasting affect on my sophomore year (and probably every school year after that). Because we moved around a lot, my brother, sisters and I were always the "new kids" in town. Anyone that has moved to a new school or neighborhood knows the feeling. I grew up being rather shy, quiet, and a respecter of authority (except when there was a substitute teacher at school). Receiving that compliment that day gave me a mini-boost of confidence and a steroid shot of self esteem. That year in school was my instant favorite, mostly because of the way it started on picture day.
When I have the chance to speak to the young women in our ward, I always remind them of just how much influence for good they can have in the lives of others. They can, with their kind words and smiles, lift the shy gaze of a quiet boy from off the floor. By their standards and example they can inspire young men to see young women as divine daughters of a Heavenly Father and treat them accordingly. They can, through their service and devotion, teach the sad and the lonely about the Savior's love, by exemplifying what he taught; "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
So, to that girl on picture day and to all the stellar young women who have touched my life along the way (and you know who you are), I want to say, "Thank you for sharing the light."
No comments:
Post a Comment