Do you ever think about why you're here? On the planet? Do you ever think about your specific gifts and evaluate how well you're using them?
I've been thinking about this lately. One thing that helps me figure out what I should be doing is figuring out what I shouldn't be doing. I can identify these time-wasters pretty easily. If I despise doing it, it's probably not one of my gifts.
For example, I abhor volunteering for classroom holiday parties. Seriously. I'd rather have minor surgery. If you ask me to help plan a classroom party, my eyes will roll back in my head and you'll only see white between my fluttering lashes. It will probably creep you out. I cannot bear being in a small space surrounded on every side by loud, confused people all trying to get by me, pressing into me, bumping me, talking to me. I need a glass of chardonnay just thinking about it, a large, full glass. I'm not a classroom party mom. I send in napkins and plates.
I am not a couponer or a best-deal-getter. I occasionally have a personal victory and remember to use a coupon, but usually I just shop at Walmart. I figure if I'm willing to buy groceries at Walmart, it excuses me from having to keep up with coupons. Furthermore, buying something at full price doesn't cause me any pain whatsoever. It might cause my husband pain to read this, but this is the cold, hard truth. Let's all embrace it.
I'm not a sports mom. I pretty much hate running around outside; therefore, I don't force my children to do it. The end.
But ...
I love to write.
I love to play the guitar.
I love to read and study and learn and teach.
I love to clean and organize.
I love to invest in younger women.
I love to plant things and watch them grow.
I'm passionate about God and all things related to him.
I'm passionate about making my home a refuge for my family and all who come here.
I'm pretty sure these are some of the things I'm supposed to use to love on those around me and make my little spot of earth better. What's more, it's a joy to do it. I'm just glad some moms find joy in planning classroom parties. I give serious thanks for those moms.
4 minutes ago
4 comments:
Jennifer, I love this post! I can relate to so many of your points. If it helps, I'm not the "classroom helping mom" type either, but I do the coupon thing almost too much, it kills me to pay full price for some things, IF I have a coupon, if I don't, it's all good. :)
Over the years I have learned to explore and grow my gifts and talents, like you I can definately tell you what they aren't!
Wow. Just wow. This post might sound simple to many, but it was something I needed to read. What you enjoy and are good at is probably a gift. Why did I never realize that in such a simple way before. Especially in the blogging world, it can be so easy to try to have others' gifts. Decorating. A sense of style. DIY. Craftiness. Couponing. And on and on. I am so very guilty of wanting another woman's gifts. And let me tell you, it's stressful trying to force something that doesn't come natural. I guess I need to determine what MINE are first.
Christy, I admire your couponing-ness. I do! I no longer envy it, but I do admire it! :)
Karen, I think discovering our strengths is a life-long process and one that changes with time and age. I don't tend to envy another person's stuff, but I am SO prone to envy their abilities! Learning to let go of some of these "I should be" thoughts is liberating. Now, some things I don't love and still have to do--balance the checkbook, prepare meals, scrub toilets--but I don't have to scrapbook or be the room mom or always look like I stepped out of a magazine! I think letting go of these things frees us up to love others better. Let me know what you discover about your own gifts! I know being a mom is one of them.
This was a great post. I'm constantly trying to work on my talents and figure out where I am meant to be. It's easy to get into a rut of doing what you don't like simply because it's socially expected. I think it's important to zero in on ourselves and take a good look at what we like and don't like and work to make a living at what we love.
Have a great day!
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