The Wonder of Being Known

I saw the movie "Wonder" tonight (5 dollar Tuesday, anyone?), and there's so many takeaways from this movie. The moments that got me, and the message I walked away with, surprised me.

If you're not familiar with "Wonder", it's a story of a boy with a facial deformity who is attending school for the first time. Auggie is deeply loved by his family, but struggles to find acceptance with his peers. The film is based on a popular children's novel. I read the novel several years ago and was touched by the themes of children being changed by exposure to diversity, and discovering that it's what's inside that counts. While seeing the film, a new message stood out to me.

In Auggie's dark moments of rejection, he turns to his parents. With tears in his eyes, he looks into his mother's face and says "Why am I so ugly?"
"You are not ugly, you are beautiful," she responds. He remarks that she has to say that because she's his mom.
"Does that make it matter less, because I'm your mom?" She asks. "It matters most because I am your mom. I know you more than anyone, and you are beautiful."

This moment so poignantly illustrates the power of being known. When we're scared, when we're unsure, when we feel rejected and alone-
those who know us deeply -through and through- can remind us who we are.

Later, Auggie shares a similar moment with his father. His dad says that he missed seeing Auggie's face when he hid it from the world. Auggie questions this, and his dad makes it clear. He loves Auggie's face because it is Auggie. "This is the face of my son".

It is our loved ones whose opinions we often value the most, so if they tell us we have worth, we will begin to believe it. Auggie experiences a beautiful transformation, and at the root of it is his family's love.

What power we have as people- whether it be parents, siblings, children, grandparents, teachers, partners, friends- to remind those we love who they are. To remind them that they are special. That they are loved.

We have the power to turn to our loved ones to remind us who we are. That we are special. That we are loved.

When you know someone the best, you know their every good and bad trait. To be able to look past their flaws and tell them they are valuable and beautiful- that's the beauty of relationship.

Even more beautiful, to hear from the one who created us and knows us more than anyone else:

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. -Isaiah 43:4

 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. -Luke 12:6-7

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