I Will Disappoint You.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

 

1.  Organized Sports:  I am INCAPABLE of team sports.  But that’s being a little unfair, as I’m also terrible at individual sports… golf, skiing, throwing horse shoes or so much as correctly answering questions with (Junior) Trivial Pursuit.  Step aerobics??  I. Can’t. Even.  As a 6ft tall woman, this is a major disappointment to general society.  In middle school, the one question I wanted to wad up into a fireball and throw back at people’s heads was “Do you play basketball?”.  NO!  Friends, I do not play basketball.

2.  Dieting:  The way I generally plan weight loss is to stop eating… everything.  This is as successful as it sounds.  Starting strong, I have a latte and get on with my day.  I’m not a breakfast girl so my willpower feels extra beefy in the morning.  Lunch…ehhh, if I’m distracted (hello, moms of toddlers!) lunch can come and go with little difficulty, as well.  But when that clock strikes 3:30pm I turn into the hungriest person who has ever lived.  So hungry that I have NO CHOICE but to eat whatever I can get my hands on to survive.  Hence, the diet no longer matters because we’ve arrived at a clear issue of life and death.  Normally it requires raiding the kids’ “Easter Basket” (a.k.a. our candy stash).  So now I’ve had 3 mini candy bars for food today.  Oh, and no water (aside from the H20 in my Latte, and I need to believe that counts).

3.  The Phone:  I hate the phone.  A ringing phone makes me want to draw the blinds and hide.  I love to talk with people in person, but put someone on the other end of my mobile and I’d sooner eat mud than answer that call.  Text me, email me, or leave me a message, but if you’re in an emergency, don’t dial my number, you’ll die before I talk myself into picking up.

So there you have it, a randomized 3-part confessional from the vast and varied list of my incompetencies.  Someday we can sit down and discuss my grilling skills, knowledge of politics, “budgeting”, and morning mood…

Truth is, I’m bad at just SO MANY things.  And then I meet someone who’s totally amazing at making perfectly delicate meringues, wanding her hair, woodworking, or soup kitchen volunteering, and it becomes added kindling to my already raging fire of inadequacy.  Because, really, most of the time we walk around feeling generally incapable, don’t we?

Therefore, it’s good for me to tell you in advance: I will disappoint you.

But this is the thing I love about the Father, as He tells us  THAT IS OK.  In fact, my not being good at lots and lots of things is AS MUCH God’s plan for me as it is that I totally rock at other things.

The Message says it like this:  “God does both the making and saving.  He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.”  Ephesians 2:10.

And Paul also said: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.”  Romans 12:6

Why are we always apologizing for all the stuff we really stink at doing?  Most of it is not our fault!  Turns out, being 6 foot tall isn’t only useful for grabbing rebounds.  And while there is much in my heart that I rightly need to work at doing better, there are still a lot of self-imposed expectations I need to lay at the Father’s feet.  He never asked me to be so many of things I’m trying to be.

You are exactly designed for the work He’s given you.  And you’re equipped to do ALL of it, as Jesus provides the grace we need every single step of the way.  Question is, are you doing your job or trying your hand unsuccessfully at someone else’s?

Some days we feel like failures, but we weren’t all created to host dinner parties.  Not everyone is good at singing.  Math doesn’t have to be your forte.  High heels are just a form of punishment to some girls.  Working on Wall Street isn’t the only way to measure success.  Sushi doesn’t have to be your favorite date night dinner.  The mission field isn’t the only way to make disciples of all nations.

WE ARE DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER.  And that’s the plan!  Stop making a mental list of your failures and have some fun allowing the Father to grow the good work He planted in you long ago.

And, while you’re at it, please pray my kids get their father’s athletic abilities… they’d at least have a fighting chance  😉