Woody-September 2

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

If you were surprised by our first featured character yesterday (Forky!), I am sure you will be pleased that we are discussing Woody today. From the very first Toy Story, Woody has always showed loyalty, even to a fault. I mean he was so loyal to his kid Andy, that when a delusional new toy showed up (looking at you Buzz Lightyear), Woody did some unthinkable things to keep Andy safe. Luckily, Woody grows and matures, Buzz Lightyear realizes he is just a toy (and that's okay!), and the two become best friends thanks to some Disney/Pixar magic! (More on their friendship in a future blog...)

But today I want to use the same clip that we focused on yesterday, to see things from Woody's perspective. We discussed that Forky wanted to stay: trash. Litter. Just scraps. Luckily-he had a friend like Woody who refused to let Forky look at himself as just trash...check it out below!

There are so many admirable qualities that Woody has. I already mentioned his loyalty; but in this clip, we also see his fearlessness, his determination, and his leadership. Again it all circles back to the fact that he deeply cares about his people. I mean he jumped out of a moving RV to get Forky back to Bonnie, even when that spork thought he was nothing more than litter.

In this clip, Woody risked a lot to get Bonnie's newly created toy back, and he also challenged Forky when he called himself "trash". He kept trying to redirect Forky, but when Woody actually listened to what Forky was saying about himself, that is when he was able to reframe a part of Forky's faulty thinking, even if it was just partially. I mean it's a cartoon, so of course Forky realized he was more than just trash...he was "Bonnie's trash". SMH!

Woody was truly trying to help the new guy realize he was so much more than the lie he was telling himself and living in. What an admirable quality! That's true leadership. That's real character where character counts.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
-Ephesians 4:29

Yes, Woody has his flaws. We all do. Woody can be controlling. Woody at one point shoved his best friend out the window. (Who hasn't?!) But when it comes to shutting down negative or false self talk-Woody is there to speak truth. (Cue the scene from the original Toy Story between him and Buzz Lightyear: "YOU. ARE. A. TOY!")

I pray that you have people in your life that are speaking truth to you.

I pray that if you are speaking negatively about yourself, or have lies filling your head, that there is at least one person in your life who is countering what is untrue.

And maybe you need to start speaking truth and calling others up to love and good works. In a world full of people who feel like Forkys; I need you to be more like Sheriff Woody. The world needs more people who are breathing life into one another and not tearing each other down. The church, YOUR CHURCH, needs more people building one another up.

Do that today friend. Call someone out in the most positive of way: say the encouraging thing that needs to be said. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) It's a wonderful gift to give someone! -Zac