What else do I really need to say? You can deduce all you need to from those two simple words.
My mom arrived on Wednesday with the intention of helping me pack. I pretty much wanted to go shopping, eat ridiculously good salads and talk about books.
In the end, we covered all our bases.
The packing is just too eye-opening. Realizing we're actually doing this again is like realizing you just jabbed yourself in the ear with a fork...but at the same time, I can hardly wait for Adam to move to a job where he gets to do something he loves. I mean, I can hear the excitement in his voice.
And it's been a long time since I've heard that.
Adam is the type of guy who has always known what he's good at...and what he's not good at. And he's GREAT at telling you about both. I admire that about him. Women don't get to be so candid. I would never say "this is what I'm really good at. This is how I can make a difference."
Though I would be happy to say "I'm really bad at this...I fail at this every time...don't ask me to do this because it won't go well..."
What's up with that?
You know, if a woman tells you her strengths, we think she's bragging. It's annoying to hear someone go off about how great they are at something.
But men and women are different. Men are supposed to be confident. How would any of us respond to a man who told you he was terrible at everything he did? Who didn't know his strengths? (Come to think of it, how would we respond to a woman with such self-doubt? That's good food for my thought...)
Recently, my dad hired a new mechanic who came in with a big folder of his own accolades. My dad said, "I liked that he sold himself to me."
That man wanted the job. And he got it.
But women? We don't understand this male phenomenon of self-confidence. It's been interesting to wrap my brain around it. And disappointing to discover that not everyone accepts self-confidence with grace or integrity. Some people don't want to know a person is good at something because it threatens their own self-worth.
That threat comes from a place of insecurity--of not being able to see someone else operate in their gifts. My question is why are we so quick to tear other people down?
Why are we so quick to tear ourselves down? Why is it so easy to say negative things about ourselves and so hard to say "This is the gift God's given me. I'm good at XYorZ." Does that make us cocky? Arrogant? Narcissistic? Because we KNOW what God's called us to do?
I don't think so. It's revelatory. It's brilliant. To know how to focus your energy and how to not waste your time? Genius. If only we could all be so self-aware.
Me? I admire this about my husband. I LOVE that he's the kind of person who can get beat down for two years and still come out knowing God has better things in store...areas where he gets to teach and train and encourage and uplift...
Knowing we get to build kids up...that's the thing that draws us back. Not our love of the stage, though we do love it. Not our desire to be flashy or in charge, though those things ARE really fun. But knowing that we get to walk out the gifts God's given us...to take those things we've learned and use them as building blocks to motivate children...that's the sweet spot.
I cannot think of a better way to live my life. Truly.
And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that moving to Colorado was God's definite plan for us...we learned a lot while we were here. We were quiet and we needed to be. But now...now, God's saying "Enough wallowing. I need you back. Get back in the fight. You still have things to offer...so you must."
So, this is a little pep talk for anyone who's been beat down. Talked to like they're an idiot. Treated poorly in any capacity especially when it comes to using the gifts God's given you.
Steward your gifts. No matter what.
Be confident in all that God's created you to do. Be the person and do the things that HE has ordered you to...and when you meet opposition from small-minded people who don't understand what it's like to have a divine purpose you're so passionate about...press forward.
Know that there is always someone out there waiting to tear you down.
Don't let them. Keep your eyes focused on heaven. There's more at stake here than your pride.
God wants you to embrace the gifts he's given...it honors him and makes him proud when you don't waste them. As always, it's not the opinions of man that matter, only HIS voice should be whispering in your ear.
Remember this always.






