Short, skinny, fat or tall, God made us perfect but that was in Eden...before the fall. ;-}
Look in the mirror and what do you see? I know there are days when I groan in agony at the sight in mine. Then I have to remind myself, God don't make no junk! There are so many things about myself that I would love to change. There are several people I would love to be like. But guess what? I can't be anybody but me. I know, bummer dude...
I can do a lot of things. I may even do some of them well. But I CAN'T do everything. Now you may have been taught that you can do anything you set your mind to. But I'm just not convinced that's entirely true. But what about the scripture: I can do ALL things through Christ, you say? I read that as saying that God will give us the strength to do what we need to do or help us get through hard places- Not that I can do absolutely anything I want to be able to do. God can enable people to do impossible things, and he has- but that's not the norm.
I can't climb mountains...I'd get vertigo and fall off. I can't ride a motorcycle like Sweet Guy can (hardly anyone can...just sayin' *wink*). I can't skydive...it would be skyDIE for me. I can't sing like Mariah Carey...but boy if I could! I can't draw or paint...I just don't have the talent. And the list goes on... There are a lot of things I can't do. BUT- there is one thing I CAN do that no one else will ever be able to do (not that they'd want to...), and that's be ME!
Sometimes I look around at the talent and abilities of others and I get discouraged. Man! If I could just do that, or if I could be that, then I could really be somebody! But the truth is: even tho I may be able to somewhat improve my talents and abilities, even master a few or learn new ones- I can never become someone else. (Duh) All I have to work with is what God gave me- and from his point of view (not necessarily mine), it's enough.
I'm not saying that we should never try to do things that are hard, or that we might never master. I play the piano. Not great- but just enough to enjoy playing for myself. I could practice and practice (and I have), but I have come to the conclusion (at no insult to myself), that I just do not have a natural ability for the piano. I could never be a Pam. G. or a Cheryl W. (They Rock!), it's just not in me. But that's OK. It does not diminish who I am or my self-worth. (And it does not prevent me from torturing the neighbors. hehe)
God gave us all talents and abilities, and it would not behoove us to make light of them by comparing ourselves to others. (Hey ME, I'm talking to YOU!) Find out what you CAN DO and do it will all your might! I've taken up jogging (Don't tell the girls in my old P.E. class! lol). I'm not too good at it yet, don't know if I ever will be, but I'm gonna do it anyways...at my speed and my ability level, not someone elses. I'm trying to be a better Sunday School teacher...will I ever be as good as some of the ones I admire for their natural talent? I don't know. But I'm trying and that's good enough--and so are YOU!
Look in the mirror and what do you see? I know there are days when I groan in agony at the sight in mine. Then I have to remind myself, God don't make no junk! There are so many things about myself that I would love to change. There are several people I would love to be like. But guess what? I can't be anybody but me. I know, bummer dude...
I can do a lot of things. I may even do some of them well. But I CAN'T do everything. Now you may have been taught that you can do anything you set your mind to. But I'm just not convinced that's entirely true. But what about the scripture: I can do ALL things through Christ, you say? I read that as saying that God will give us the strength to do what we need to do or help us get through hard places- Not that I can do absolutely anything I want to be able to do. God can enable people to do impossible things, and he has- but that's not the norm.
I can't climb mountains...I'd get vertigo and fall off. I can't ride a motorcycle like Sweet Guy can (hardly anyone can...just sayin' *wink*). I can't skydive...it would be skyDIE for me. I can't sing like Mariah Carey...but boy if I could! I can't draw or paint...I just don't have the talent. And the list goes on... There are a lot of things I can't do. BUT- there is one thing I CAN do that no one else will ever be able to do (not that they'd want to...), and that's be ME!
Sometimes I look around at the talent and abilities of others and I get discouraged. Man! If I could just do that, or if I could be that, then I could really be somebody! But the truth is: even tho I may be able to somewhat improve my talents and abilities, even master a few or learn new ones- I can never become someone else. (Duh) All I have to work with is what God gave me- and from his point of view (not necessarily mine), it's enough.
I'm not saying that we should never try to do things that are hard, or that we might never master. I play the piano. Not great- but just enough to enjoy playing for myself. I could practice and practice (and I have), but I have come to the conclusion (at no insult to myself), that I just do not have a natural ability for the piano. I could never be a Pam. G. or a Cheryl W. (They Rock!), it's just not in me. But that's OK. It does not diminish who I am or my self-worth. (And it does not prevent me from torturing the neighbors. hehe)
God gave us all talents and abilities, and it would not behoove us to make light of them by comparing ourselves to others. (Hey ME, I'm talking to YOU!) Find out what you CAN DO and do it will all your might! I've taken up jogging (Don't tell the girls in my old P.E. class! lol). I'm not too good at it yet, don't know if I ever will be, but I'm gonna do it anyways...at my speed and my ability level, not someone elses. I'm trying to be a better Sunday School teacher...will I ever be as good as some of the ones I admire for their natural talent? I don't know. But I'm trying and that's good enough--and so are YOU!
"I may not sing like the angels. And I may not preach like Paul. But I know God has given me the greatest gift of all, a new heart."
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12
2 Comments:
Great post!
One of the greatest tricks of the devil is to get us to compare ourselves to others. When we start putting ourselves down, we won't do anything for God's kingdom.
Thanks Kathy. :)
Post a Comment