By Christie Brocato

When I was little I wanted to be so much like my older sister, Candy.  She was left handed.  I tried with all my might to switch to writing with my left hand.  She has blue eyes.  I couldn’t do anything about that – mine are hazel.  She was smart. Well … I never did master the grades in school.  She was popular, a cheerleader.  I tried out for cheerleader.  I can just imagine the girls saying now, that ever popular Southern saying, “Well, look at that.  Bless her heart.  At least she tried.”  I am not nor was I ever athletically inclined.  In fact in my grown up years I was banned by my family from doing anything athletic.

I was reading a description of a book written by Lisa Harper, Stumbling into Grace.  It brought back a child hood memory of me trying to be like Candy.  The scene takes place in Orange, Texas.  I was in first grade.  My parents always took us fishing and on this one particular day we were fishing.  It must have been chilly out because Candy had her coat with her.  There is a 8mm movie of me running down a incline, with Candy’s coat on, and you can see me saying “I have Candy’s coat on” over and over and over again.  I was so proud of wearing Candy’s coat.  In fact, as a teenager, I used to wait until Candy left for school and then go into her room and “borrow” something of hers to wear to school.  I still wanted to be like her.  

So how does that relate to my life now? All that time growing up I longed to be like Candy when I should have just been me.  So picture this – instead of Candy’s coat I have Jesus’ coat.  I come running down that embankment saying “I have Jesus’ coat on” over and over again.  Do you think I might act a little different?  Instead of wanting to be more like my sister, what if I put on His coat and tried to be more like Him.  Isn’t that what we are supposed to do?  

Whose coat do you want to wear?