“Do you know what I like about myself?”
The answer that my son gave to that question was wonderfully spot on to who he is and hearing his answer made me smile. That wasn’t the revelation, though. I marveled at the question!
How often do we hear of children admitting that they like something about themselves? With a culture that loves to find the faults, flaws, and shortcomings, it’s difficult to sift through the negative to discover the strengths, and successes.
[verse reference=”Psalm 139:14 (NLT)”]Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.[/verse]
I am reminded of times that I have had to fill out different questionnaires and get-to-know-you forms that ask, “What are your skills?” or “What are your talents?” I freeze in place! You mean, I’m ALLOWED to say that I’m good at something? I can actually tell others what I like about myself?
That throws me into another line of thought; I thought we are not to boast about ourselves. You’ll look prideful. This “fear” of being prideful almost sidelined God’s prompting in my life to allow my experiences to help others.
There were several times a month that I’d share about marriage on one of my social media accounts. God had done much and worked in and through my husband and me to fortify our marriage. I shared with whomever would want to know. The response was beautiful!
One day I received a private message from an old classmate telling me to stop sharing about marriage because hers was terrible and it hurt for her to see someone else happy in their marriage.
I had a decision to make. Listen to the naysayer, or keep encouraging those my sharing helping? What the naysayer did not know was that I was getting other private messages from friends telling me how some aspects of what I shared helped to turn their marriages around!
It wasn’t ME that I was boasting in or being prideful about, I was boasting of what the Lord had done, and I was very mindful to proclaim that. But it was still mistaken as pride by one individual.
I chose to speak of God’s goodness; and now, I continue to in more than just the subject of marriage!
[verse reference=”Philippians 2:14-16″]Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.[/verse]
Others, and especially our children, are watching us shine…for Him! And learning.
I am approaching the years where other moms really do want to see what God is accomplishing through me. It gives them hope and inspiration!
When done with the right-heart attitude, and pointing back to God, we can help other women more quickly answer the question, “You know what I like about myself?”
God has definitely made us wonderfully complex! So much so that no one else can do what YOU DO like you do it. Let us not lessen the gifts, wisdom, and talents that are in us; the things that, even if not seen in open spaces, are heavenly designed.
I want to challenge you with my sons statement and encourage you to shine! Answer the question, either in the comments or in a journal:
“You know what I like about myself?”
