It's Not Easy Being Green

"It's not easy being green." Those words were made famous by Kermit the Frog, but that truth is lived out by thousands of Missionary Kids around the world each day. Missionary Kids (or Third Culture Kids) live between two cultures and struggle to fit into each. They are very different than the children and the culture that they live in, but they also find that they have become much different than the children of their "passport" culture. And sometimes it is a bit confusing to figure out what place, if any, is supposed to feel like home and where they are supposed to fit in.



The official flag of the International Society of
Missionary Kids

It is been said that a Third Culture Kid (TCK) becomes much like
a chameleon: they are able to blend into the culture in which they happen to be in at the time, but they never really become a full-fledged part. While their "passport" culture is yellow and their new culture is blue, they become a blend of the two. They end up feeling green. And it's not easy being green.

I was reminded of this last night as I talked with one of our children about the things of life and why our life is not "normal." Being six months into our time in Canada also means that we are only six months away from another major transition to an entirely different culture. And those things remind you that it is not easy being green.



Our children with "TiCK" their stuffed 
chameleon. TiCK has travelled with our
family for over a  year-and-a-half.

Below is a poem written by a Missionary Kid called, "I Am Green." As you read this pray for Ezra, Thea, and Hosanna and the other TCK's that you may know who are serving all over the world. Pray that God would use their less-than-normal lives for His glory. Pray that when they do not feel at home that they would long for a city whose builder and maker is God Himself (Hebrews 11:10). And please pray for their parents that in the midst of their changing lives that they could provide love, stability, comfort, and direction for their children as their family walks together by faith. Because it's not easy being green.

I Am Green

I grew up in Blue Country

My parents grew up in Yellow Country

They tell me I am Yellow

And sometimes we go and visit Yellow Country

When I am in Yellow Country

I go to school with the Yellow kids.

I dress like the Yellow kids

And I talk like the Yellow kids.

but when I am in Blue Country

I go to school with the Blue kids.

I dress like the Blue kids

And I talk like the Blue kids.

Sometimes when I am in Yellow Country

I really miss the Blue ways.

I guess that the things I do and say,

Are really rather Bluish in color

In the same way, when I am in blue Country

There are things I miss about Yellow Country.

And I am sure the things I do and say

Appear rather Yellowish in color.

All this changing around is so confusing

Blue or Yellow? Who am I really?

I wonder if there is a place where I could just be me,

Where the Blue and the Yellow could both run free.

Sometimes when I am flying between the two places

I want to stay up there in the middle of all the races.

If only I could stop some place in between

If only I could just be GREEN!