I have watched every single Tinkerbell movie multiple times. I have 3 girls who have all loved these fairy flicks. Today, Mya convinced the boys to watch one of her favorites, "The Pirate Fairy".
Allow me to summarize: Tinkerbell and her 5 friends go in search of a wayward fairy that stole their blue pixie dust. The fairy had joined a band of pirates led by the future Captain Hook after being fired from her job as a dust-keeper fairy at Pixie Hallow. They have to use their unique gifts to navigate this journey together but things get complicated when the bitter fairy causes their talents to mix up between them.
I bet you can hardly stand not knowing how it ends! Well, you're just gonna have to rent it for yourself! But even though I won't tell you the ending, I will share some lessons we can learn from these small but mighty gals!
Lesson #1-We Can't All Be Tinker Fairies
In the movie, each fairy is equipped with a different gift. Tinkerbell is a tinker fairy, Fawn is an animal fairy, Iridessa is a light fairy, Silvermist is a water fairy, Rosetta is a garden fairy, and Vidia is a fast flying fairy. Each of their unique gifts helps them collectively achieve their mission. The fairies waste no time trying to argue about which gift is more important. There is a mutual understanding that all gifts are necessary and they all operate within their skill set to help things go smoothly.
How much easier would life be if we all did the same? Ladies, what if we all took time to really explore the areas God has gifted us and decided to operate within those skill sets? What would happen if we stopped comparing ourselves to each other and worked in harmony? We simply cannot fulfill the work God has for us if we are constantly comparing ourselves with one another and wishing we would have been gifted differently.
1 Corinthians 12:14-22 says this, "Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary."
Allow me to provide a personal example about how this is true in my life. I am a visionary and an activist. I can cast a vision and rally the troops. But I am HORRIBLE at the little details. I struggle to think through all of the tiny moving pieces that must come together to make the vision happen. For this reason, it's critical that I work with a team of ladies that are gifted in all the ways I am not!
Who does it benefit if we all sit around jealous over how God has equipped the sister next to us? The enemy loves nothing more than to convince us that we are not enough with the skills God gave us! That's a lie my friends! Embrace your God given talents!
Lesson #2- Water Fairies Shouldn't Try To Bend Light
In the movie, Zarina (the wayward fairy) blasts the 6 others with a special dust causing their talents to become mixed up! Unaware of the switch, Tinkerbell starts to instruct the water fairy to open the waterfall but blasts them with water herself. The fairies quickly realize they no longer have their own talent and begin to panic! Unfortunately, there's no time to waste. They all attempt to manage their new skill as best as they can but it creates quite a difficult journey.
When we try to be someone other than who God created us to be, we can create a lot of unnecessary bumps along the way. AND we are likely preventing someone else from being able to use their gifts. I could spend hours trying to make a spreadsheet of all the little details to make a vision happen. But it would result in frustration, missed steps, and hurt feelings. Instead, I can acknowledge that this isn't my gift, honor someone else who is gifted in this way, and empower them to succeed!
1 Corinthians 12 goes on, "And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it."
Ladies, we make a powerful team when we acknowledge that all of our skills are necessary and are equally important! God is honored when we cheer each other on in our uniqueness and refuse to play the comparison game!
Lesson #3-New Skills Aren't A Threat
Zarina was fired as a dust-keeper fairy because she discovered her skill of creating new types of pixie dust. The fairy in charge did not like Zarina changing the way things had always been done. After a couple slip ups caused by her experiments, she was removed from her role. She ran away hurt and angry only to return later as a villain eager to steal the precious blue pixie dust.
How many times have you felt frustrated or threatened by someone who shows up with new skills or ideas and proposes a change? "Who does this chick think she is anyway?" You know you've thought it! And you begin questioning your ability and influence! Sisters, there will surely be people in your life who are trying to compete with you and take over your role. We can't control other's motives. But we CAN control our own. And we don't have to constantly be on the defense! Let's challenge ourselves to swallow our pride and be accepting of women gifted differently than us without feeling threatened. Rejecting someone out of our own fear just might create an unnecessary enemy and potentially squash the stirring God put inside of them.
"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."- Ephesians 4:2-3
Unity and harmony among the women in God's church is a powerful force to be reckoned with and our spiritual enemy can't stand it! When we are all operating within our God given gifts, we help bring His Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven! So embrace your talents and empower your sisters to do the same...the body of Christ depends on it!
