If the Shoe Fits, Don’t Wear It!
Everybody knows that the rule of thumb when shopping for kids school shoes is to purchase those that are at least half a size bigger to allow ample room for growth during the school year. As a child, I remember having my mom bend down to touch the front of my shoes to feel for my toes. This toe test helped her determine if the shoes fit, and if they did, I wouldn’t be wearing them. A bigger size was necessary!
These days, I still find myself using the toe test but not only as I buy shoes for my daughters. I more so use it to measure the different areas in my life.
Let me explain. You see, the concept remains the same. When we are comfortable with an area of our life whether career, relationships, choices, finances, body image, or even a pattern of thinking, we should know there isn’t any room to grow. And just like a pair of shoes that fits snug, something bigger is necessary!
A more familiar term to describe this limited mentality might be comfort zone.
Everyone has one. This is the place where we don’t need God to succeed. Here, we remain well within our boundaries and can manage everything on our own. It is a place where challenge does not exist and neither does promotion.
Comfort is closely related to complacency and this is where the problem lies. When we become complacent we lose our vision for anything bigger. It is much easier to stick to what we know is safe.
Recently, I stepped out of my comfort zone and began writing a weekly blog. Although I enjoy writing and providing inspiration to others through the written word, it was a challenge to commit to writing on a weekly basis and in a blog format. Will people read what I write? Will what I write touch the lives of others? Will I have something different to write about every week? These and many more questions arose as I toyed with the idea.
Stepping into an environment that is bigger than what we know and are familiar with, forces us to expand our knowledge and stretch our thoughts.
As uncomfortable as it is to step beyond the place of familiarity, true growth can only take place when we reach the end of our abilities and enter into the beginning of God’s. For me, this is the place where I rely on Him to show up in order to be successful. It is the place where my heart flutters in uncertainty of what lies ahead. It is the place where the shoe is a little big for me, but I chose to wear it anyway and trust that God will help me grow into it.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
I pray today that if the shoe fits, you don’t wear it and look for a bigger pair instead. After all, who could say no to a new pair of shoes?!
…By the way, this article was included in a compilation of posts on “Cheerleader of Faith”, Kelly Balarie’s blog. Please visit her site today, Purposeful Faith, and check out the other wonderful writers who are sharing their encouraging posts, I promise you will be blessed!
Jesus Doesn’t Say the “F” Word
There are several choice words that Jesus doesn’t have in His vocabulary and the F word is no exception. Now, before your mind goes astray, let me clarify. I am not speaking of the F-bomb (as we commonly refer to) that is sometimes thrown around to shock and offend others. It is obvious that is not a word that we would ever hear Jesus say. Yet, there are other words that are not as distinct, and although not obscene in nature, but still not a part of Jesus’ everyday word-stock.
The four letter word I am referring to is FAIL.
While hanging out with our girls this weekend, in between laughter and crazy conversation, we spotted a limousine that had broken down in a shopping center. It was about 9:00pm and it was obvious the limousine was transporting someone somewhere and to put it simply, the situation was not the best. As we talked about how terrible it must have been to be stranded, our expressive little Rain, couldn’t resist throwing in her two cents and blurted out how being in that situation really “sucks”!
Now if you’re reading this blog, I am assuming you are old enough to know what appropriate language is, so I will refrain from turning this into an etiquette lesson. However, if you parent little ones, you can understand there are words we just don’t want our children saying. The Jensing took a moment to explain that we don’t use words like this to express ourselves but Rain was stuck on how suck isn’t a bad word.
My explanation is always the same: there are bad words and then there are ugly words, and sucks happens to be an ugly one. As elementary as this sounds, this was all she needed to hear, to understand that this could not be a part of her everyday word-stock.
If we had allowed Rain to use this word and hadn’t called her out on it, she would have assimilated it as an acceptable form of expression. What’s more, this term would have become one she could identify with at any given point had she given it permission to exist in her vocabulary.
There are many words that Jesus doesn’t say, but without a doubt, Jesus doesn’t say Fail. To allow this word to be part of His vocabulary implies that it is not only acceptable but that at some point He could identify with it, which we all know He cannot.
This causes me to analyze the words I have been accepting in my life and identifying with, as well as at what point I allowed them to become part of my vocabulary. Some of these words are learned, some we acquire as a result of experience, and yet others are given to us.
The good news is that our vocabulary is solely ours and can be revamped at any given time.
Today, I chose to accept and identify with the following: redeemed, restored, released, victorious, fierce, brave, and dauntless.
What ugly words have you been allowing in your life and what new ones are you going to replace them with?
Breaking the Mold
Some people are born to break the mold and yet others are born to die doing so. The average life expectancy today is said to be 79. Perhaps you’ve heard the term, 80 Summers, indicative of the amount of summers we are projected to experience in our life time. When you think of it in terms of summers, it doesn’t really sound like a lot, does it? Especially if you have already crossed the midway point.
The truth is no one really knows the amount of time each one of us has been sent on assignment. Assignments vary and so does the time for completion. Yet, I don’t think that sitting around counting how many summers we have left is the most productive thing we can do. A better way to live is to focus on breaking the mold.
You don’t have to be a supernaturally gifted person in order to break the mold. Let’s consider star athletes for example. Even star athletes were not star athletes all of their lives. They broke the mold by working hard. Average people like you and I are also called to break the mold. Many times we hide behind thoughts like, “I’m not talented enough”, “I don’t have enough money”, or “If I was only born with a certain gift”. These are all false conceptions of reality and not an excuse for not becoming all we were created to be.
I’d like to share my favorite quote with you. It was written by Tim Notke and captures the essence of what Breaking the Mold is.
Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard. – Tim Notke
You see, very few people are born with specific gifts for specific roles… the rest are all developed.
I’d like to introduce you to someone I know who broke the mold. Remember I said some people are born to die breaking the mold? Above is a picture of my grandmother who was just 2 months shy of 108 years old when she passed away this past Friday. She knew how to break the mold. A woman, who faced many of the same challenges you and I face in life. She was a wife, a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who lived what many would consider to be an average life; but there was nothing average about her.
She knew what her assignment on earth was and she graciously carried it out for 107 years. Because breaking the mold is not about being famous, on TV, or recognized by millions, but about breaking pre-determined expectations.
…She definitely broke those!
Romans 12:2 says it this way:
Do not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…
This I learned from my grandmother…Break the Mold or die trying.
Best Dressed
The pre-ceremony parade that takes place prior to any awards show, also known as the red carpet, is the place to be seen for all celebrities. Here they get the opportunity to strut down the extra-long welcome mat all while receiving the admiration of those gazing on. For the spectators, the excitement comes not only from watching all the prominent guests arrive, but from learning who they are wearing (a phrase coined by the late Joan Rivers to inquire about the designer of a stars outfit for the night).
The red carpet has become an event all on its own in the recent years. Being named Best Dressed on the red carpet is just as lucrative an award as the ones received on the stage during the main ceremony. As a result of such a nomination, the appointee will grace the cover of magazines and television screens everywhere and be recognized for their strength in choice of clothes that evening.
Although us regular women may never walk a red carpet, it is equally important for us to wear our best, especially for those very significant moments in our lives.
Most recently I found myself thinking about 2 of the best dressers I know. When a significant moment comes along, they both know exactly what to wear and don’t get lost behind the clutter of the closet. Both of these ladies only have one outfit in their closet for these occasions. It’s not sparkly, pink, or full of sequins. It’s not expensive, not bought at a high end store, and not made out of silk or cashmere.
It’s a hand woven garment made out of strength. Perhaps you own one, and if you don’t, perhaps you’d like to.
I have seen both these ladies dress themselves with strength when they have had nothing else to wear. Over sick children, hospital rooms, tough financial situations, separation from family, and other heartache they have never considered wearing anything else.
My admiration has been for both of these women and their resilience but I have been even more consumed by the one who dressed them. After all, as Joan Rivers taught us, it is as much about the designer as it is about the design.
This garment is available to us all. It’s tailored made to fit each and every one of us; never too big and never too small. And always the exact size we are going to need for the occasion.
She dresses herself with strength Proverbs 31:17
Strength and dignity are her clothing Proverbs 31:25
Who are you wearing today?