They picked me up to go and watch their swimming lessons. It was the fourth and final week of lessons for this summer and I had been hearing for weeks of their progression. Even now, they were listing all they had learned. Four year old, Jocelyn stating she could hold her “breath and swim under the water really far”.
The car was suddenly quiet and from the backseat came the question, “But when am I going to get my tail?”
Tail?
“Yes, I want to be a mermaid.”
Amidst laughter, we explained people cannot grow a tail as mermaids are pretend. The question and conversation have continued to weave themselves through my mind for a few days now.
Jocelyn’s question has hinted at a longing which lies in us all … we want to be more and do more. Often we want to be and do as those around us.
We forget God has made us uniquely with personalities and abilities paired with His purpose for our life.
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” (Romans 12:6, NLT)
We all have different gifts and abilities. As we each share our gift, the Church comes together and functions in unity and diversity. Each one is needed and our lives enhanced as we do our part.
God did not intend for us all to be the same. In longing to be like someone else, we miss altogether who He intends for us to be. With our eyes on others, we overlook the opportunities He puts before us each day.
Peter gives us THREE guidelines on our gifts:
- Embrace variety. “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts” (1 Peter 4:10, NLT). Our gifts and abilities were meant to be different by His design.
- Serve each other. “Use them well to serve one another” (verse 10). We have been given gifts to manage and use to the benefit of one another. Who can you bless today?
- Expend yourself. “Do it [that which God has called you to] with all the strength and energy that God supplies” (verse 11). We must rely on His power to carry out the tasks He places in our lives.
As we embrace who we are, serve one another, and do it with all our strength, something both powerful and amazing occurs –
“Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Christ Jesus. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” (verse 12)
And so today I pray for my granddaughters … Thank you, Lord, for these two beautiful girls whom You created uniquely and so different, even from one another. May they each embrace their differences and grow in the gifts and abilities You have wired in them. May they not want to be other than themselves as they come to recognize that only in being themselves will they find purpose. Help them to accept that while they may not be able to be everything and do all things, they will do what you have called them to with perfection. May they embrace who You have created them to be with humility and live to bring You glory. It is in Your Name I pray. Amen.
Today I am joining … Three Word Wednesday and Coffee For Your Heart and Women With Intention .
If you flipped around those three, you’d have a great and appropriate acronym.
Serve
Embrace
Expend
Pretty good!!! xo
Yes! I love it too!
Thank you for sharing on God’s perspective on our uniqueness.
I am reminded of Psalm 139:14 “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”
The acronym “see” was beautiful!
Oh how adorable – “when am I going to get my tail” Love love love this story. Precious and such a great analogy you give us here.
She truly was so precious probably because she was quite serious in her desire to grow a tail! I love when God brings a lesson through children. So glad you stopped here today!
Aww I want to be a mermaid too. But I am already created in God’s image, so I’m good. 🙂
Sarah, you are the one and only you. So yes, you are good. Very good!
yes, we are all created with different gifts, and no gift is more or less important than another. Sometimes, we look at people with very public gifts, such as speaking or teaching, and we deem them as doing more for God than those with the gift of helps who are working behind the scenes. But to God—and therefore to us—all giftedness used for His glory is important.
Blessings,
Patti @ Embracing Home
Patti, you raise a very good point – we tend to esteem the visible gifts, those ore prominent, as being more important. But how very often the unseen is the glue which holds it all together. May we be content to use our gifts for His glory, being who He created us to be. Blessings!
I think we have all wanted to be mermaids! I remember that little girl desire
I know it is a powerful life changing event when we finally are ok with who we are. Limitations, gifts , and all. I know I haven’t reached that fully yet. Good reminders
Somer, your comment made me wonder if we truly reach that fully in this life. Perhaps it is only when we are transformed in glory. Thank you for making me think more on this tonight. Blessings!