On the days you feel down, remember Nestor

Growing up and even today, my favorite Christmas movie was called, "Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey." In my opinion, it is the saddest Christmas movie that will have you inspired by the end.

In short, it's about a donkey who was born with abnormally long ears during the Roman Empire. When Nestor was little, all the other donkeys and animals often ridiculed him because he would trip on his ears and looked much different than the other donkeys. Nestor's mom gave him a pair of socks to keep his ears contained to help him look more like the other donkeys and give him a chance to play. That same night, soldiers arrived to take the young donkeys and when they grabbed Nestor, his ears came loose. The soldiers mocked the owner and took all of the young donkeys for free, which caused the owner to become so angry that he threw Nestor out in a snow storm. Nestor's mom broke loose and chased after him to protect him from the storm, but she didn't survive the night. The next morning, Nestor finds a little cherub, who tells him that he is destined for great things and should travel to Bethlehem. She encouraged him and said, "Your ears can do wondrous things no other ears can do. The sounds they hear will guide you on a path that's straight and true, and then you will save another, as your mother once saved you." Nestor eventually finds Mary and Joseph and leads them to the Manager that Jesus was born and in the end returns to the farm a hero.

It always made me sad when the other donkeys made fun of poor Nestor and seeing the sadness the movie portrayed the donkey. I watched this movie with my kiddos this Christmas and even my son mentioned how "mean" the other donkeys were. God made Nestor different because he was meant to do something so much more important.

On the days that you are feeling as low as Nestor after being bullied, remind yourself that God sent YOU to this world. He sent YOU because you have something to offer to this world that no one else can. Don't let the negativity or the hardships keep you from moving forward. You were destined for something great and you need to trust that. Always stay true to yourself and stay humble and kind and you will find all the greatness that God has promised for you.