Labels
are only skin deep.
They cannot define your contents,
nor capture your flavour,
nor dictate your use.
Your cells
will shine best
when used for their stated
purpose, shaking out
your true essence,
label-free.
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Meanwhile, Melody Muses... 
Label-free. Beautiful metaphor.
Would have some drawbacks for spices, though 🙂
It would be a new meal every time…. 🙂
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to get done labels off? Almost seem stuck for eternity. But they also serve a purpose. I remember a time when we had a group of teens over and they thought it would be funny to take all the labels off our canned items. For months we weren’t sure what would be eating. All that to say your poem sure got me thinking…
I did that same thing to illustrate a teaching point – and then waited long enough that I couldn’t remember which labels I had switched! We had some interesting meals, I can tell you… 🙂
We don’t like being labelled/defined yet it’s rather scary to live without a label. What am I if I am not mother or daughter or wife or friend etc? A lot of faith required to let those labels go.
Absolutely – some labels help us to define and build upon what and who we are! In this case, my husband swapped the labels as a joke – and it got me thinking about what happens when we are labelled wrongly, especially at a young age, when we are still unsure of who we are. As a parent and an educator, part of my job is to find and draw out what is latent in each child and encourage it (the positive side of labelling). BUT if I haven’t done my homework and am applying labels without having applied wisdom as well, I could be causing damage. A large part of who I am was missed, or wrongly labelled as a child – I am just now discovering that I am someone different than I was told, or that I came to believe. So getting rid of old labels for me has a lot of power and freedom attached!
Yes, and as one of the other comments noted, getting rid of those labels on jars etc is a really difficult job. In fact no matter what one does there always seems to be a trace of the label left.
Hmmm – maybe there is more to explore with this – another poem, perhaps? Some good thoughts…
i better not shake it too much; hot pepper is highly flammable! 😉
Just be sure you’re actually shaking the pepper! 😀
Perfection. Love the metaphor!
Thanks Millie!
I have a lot of sticky residue from the labels that have been thrown on me since birth – LOL
On a serious note, so have I – and it is liberating indeed to get rid of all that residue!
Very clever piece. I hate labels they only serve as chains to hold us back.
Thanks. Yes, I have found labels can be detrimental to growth – we need to learn to accept only God’s labels for us – and therein lies the power and freedom!!
gee! I’ve had tons of labels all my life but was so blessed with a wise grandmother that never treated me different or allowed me that tendency just because WE really all ARE different ! You are #1 poet! Another Wadsworth !
I love that your experience with your grandmother was so positive. The generations have so much to offer each other! And – blush – I will humbly thank you for your vote of confidence, and lovely comparison. 🙂
I love the idea that God is shaking out my true essence–some days it tastes pretty good!
\isn’t that fun – to leak the flavour God wants for us? I guess in many ways, that’s the goal of this life – to refine and hone our unique way to show God off…
Thank you for helping us with those sticky labels! Wonderful poem, and an inside photo too!
I don’t take many of those, as you have seen – but this one was a glaring poem in the making! I couldn’t resist! 🙂
Melody, its been awhile since I’ve ready your postings…and its good to see you are still waxing strong. Thanks for being faithful to share what the Lord gives you.
Aw, thanks Glenda! 🙂