Good Things: Rudolph and Other Misfits

Rudolph is a classic Christmas icon.  Everyone knows that his bright red nose helped guide Santa’s sleigh during a horrible blizzard, and the tune to his song plays often on the radio.  Each year, commercials advertise the old cartoon, which tells the tale of Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys.  While most believe that Rudolph is just for kids, I actually think he makes a nice mascot for the childless…

Why do I say that a cartoon character who is potentially a trigger for the childless makes a good mascot for them?  Well, the first reason is that Rudolph felt pretty alone because of his bright red nose.  In fact, the other reindeer wouldn’t even let him join in any of their games.

And isn’t that what the childless often feel like?  We’re different and simply don’t understand why we can’t just be like everyone else.  We want to join in the festivities.  Honestly, we long for it more than anything else.  But we just don’t seem to fit in…  Just like Rudolph didn’t fit in…

But then, Rudolph finds the Island of Misfit Toys.  A place with a spotted elephant, a jack-in-the-box named Charlie, a train with square wheels, and a water-gun that shoots jelly!  And Rudolph, a misfit himself, asks if he can stay with them awhile.

And isn’t that what our childless tribe is like?!  After feeling alone, we find our place with others who feel just as strange as we do.  It’s a wonderful “Me too!” moment, realizing that there are people out there who are quirky and unique and different, just like you.

What I found even more incredible as I reminisced about Rudolph, watching a short clip of the old cartoon, were the comments that people had posted about the misfit toys.  They were so positive and empathetic, wanting to rescue all the toys.  Grown men and women, saying they love the spotted elephant and would fancy a water-gun that shoots jelly.  And others claiming that they, too, feel like a misfit.

I think that’s what we must remember.  We all have eccentricities that make us feel like an oddity, at times.  Absolutely no one is perfect, and we all have things about ourselves that we wish we could change.

Even Paul, in the Bible, had a thorn that he begged the Lord to take away.  But the Lord refused to take the burden.  Despite this, in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT, Paul states, “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me….  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

As childless, we must remember that God made us this way.  Despite the fact that we may feel weak or like a misfit, despite the fact that we may beg God to take the burden of infertility away, He may choose to leave us on the Island of Misfit Toys.  He may choose to leave us imperfect, even broken.

But that does not mean that we aren’t worth loving.  It doesn’t mean that someone else won’t see our beauty or want to be with us.  Just like the lovely comments from people choosing their favorite misfit toy, there are those, like me, who absolutely adore this childless community.  There are those, like me, who didn’t choose to be here but are so very glad to have found such an amazing group of unique and beautiful people.

So, when you see Rudolph this Christmas season, remember the truth.  He’s not just for kids.  He’s an amazing mascot for the childless—a cute, funny, strong, wonderfully adorable misfit who found an entire island of misfits just like him…

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