Be Beautiful and Bloom
Ever feel like God loves that lady over there more than you? Have you looked at someone else and felt like God loves her more than you because she dresses nicely, has a great personality, everyone seems to love her, and she looks like she has it all together? Meanwhile, you’re sitting over in the corner just wishing you had that life more than yours?
God makes us all different. It’d be boring if we were all the same. I think of a friend of mine who talks about her children as the “athlete and the mathlete”- different personalities, different talents. Both lovely. But we might be tempted to give the athlete more glory because that’s the “flashy” talent. Just like we may give the woman who can talk to anyone more glory because she’s the one who leads, speaks, has more Bible knowledge, clearly has the perfect kids and I’m sure a perfect marriage too because she’s always smiling and has a great sense of humor. And, seriously, does she even eat? How can she be that skinny?! We don’t like her. We wish we were her. And, all of the sudden we don’t want our life anymore. We resent it all- her, us, our kids, our husband, our life.
Let’s just toss the hogwash out.
We all have unique gifts and talents. I may be able to talk to anyone, but I am horrible at keeping my house clean. And let’s not even start talking about my laundry shortcomings. Or how about my friend who can cook better than me? Or my friend who’s an awesome gardener and grows all sorts of lovely things? I killed the small container herb garden on the side of the house. Or my friend who can turn everything into a lovely craft project? Or the one who has more Bible knowledge than me? Or the one who’s a singer? Or the one who’s a published author? Or the one who’s a missionary in Uganda? Or the one who recently moved to 30 acres in the country? Or the one who moved to Africa? and on and on I could go. All those things I could be fluorescent green with envy about because they all sound so wonderful! But, that’s not my life. That’s not where God has placed me. Those aren’t my gifts, I have others. And if I tried to live in someone else’s gifts and talents, I’d fail miserably. If I tried to copy someone else’s life that wasn’t meant for me, I’d be exhausted from trying and unhappy in the end.
I want to encourage all of us to marvel at what we have- the life, the gifts, the talents. We are each unique and beautiful in our own way. Lysa TerKeurst says “There is an abundant need in the world for your exact brand of beautiful.”…”When she does well, we all do well. All tides rise when we see a sister making the world a better place with her gifts.”
Take your unique gifts and marvel in them. Flourish in them. Run with them. They make you great! No one else is like you and no one else can do what you do in the life God has given you.
Be beautiful and bloom right where you’ve been planted (especially if you’re one of my friends who has the gardening talent).
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