“Our bodies don’t have just one part. They have many parts. Suppose a foot says, “I’m not a hand, and so I’m not part of the body.” Wouldn’t the foot still belong to the body? Or suppose an ear says, “I’m not an eye, and so I’m not part of the body.” Wouldn’t the ear still belong to the body? If our bodies were only an eye, we couldn’t hear a thing. And if they were only an ear, we couldn’t smell a thing. But God has put all parts of our body together in the way that he decided is best.”
When was the last time your offered to give your cat a bath? Or, have you ever cleaned your partner’s teeth? What about your postman? When did you last tell him to take the day off, you’ll finish his rounds?
Unless you happen to be a vet, a dentist or your postman’s boss, it’s pretty unlikely that you made a point of attempting to do any of these things recently. Why would you? These are not things that you’ve had any practice doing nor are they likely to be skills you’ll need over the next few years.
Why then do we seem to find it so very easy to give ourselves a hard time when we see someone doing something that we can’t? Think about the things you do on a day to day basis. Could your partner do what you do? Or your doctor? How about your last high school teacher? You are a remarkable individual and no one can do what you do in quite the same way that you do it.
“Because you are special”
If you’re sitting there reading this thinking, “yeah, sure. You don’t know my day. All I ever do is get up, get the kids to school and then come home again. Anyone can do that” then you’re wrong. You are the only person who can get your children prepared for school in the way that you do it. Sure, another person might get them up and to school but would they do it how you do? They would have their own unique way of doing things and even if you told them how you do it, it would be impossible for them to exactly mimic you. Why? Because you are special.
Having recognised that you are a unique individual, it’s time to stop fighting against the person God made you to be and started working with it. I know a lady who is a massive supporter of Give A Brick. She doesn’t go on the Internet so she’s never read a word of what you’re reading. (I did read her ‘Act of Random Kindness’ once but that was as close as she got to this website 
However, she believes in the vision of the charity and offline, has given a brick and asked her friends to do the same.
If you were to meet this lady and talk to her about Give A Brick, she’d get very excited but I can also guarantee that at some point in her conversation with you, she’d mention that she doesn’t really do much because she doesn’t understand computers. When I hear her say that, I tell her what I tell you today: We all play to our strengths. Without the support and prayers that this lady devotes to Give A Brick, it would not be in existence today. I’d be talking to myself
“Play to your strengths”
It saddens me when I speak to people who yearn to be more like ’such and such’ or ’so and so’. Whatever happened to just being you? You are not perfect (sorry if I’ve shattered any illusions there ) but you are who God created you to be.
I remember as a teenager watching the film Three Men and a Little Lady. (It’s the rather dubious sequel to Three Men and a Baby in case you’re not familiar with this piece of art ) At the end, the little girl’s mother (Sylvia I seem to remember her name was) marries the dashing Tom Selleck but the scene that captured my imagination was when Sylvia has to listen to why Peter (Selleck) loves her. As she’s listening to him, she absentmindedly chews her lip and he announces that this too is something he loves about her.
I remember for years afterwards I tried to be demure and chew my bottom lip à la Sylvia. Do you think I succeeded? Not a chance! As anyone who knows me will tell you, demure and quiet I am not. I was fighting a losing battle with that one! Far better to recognise that I am who I am and learn to love that
And now it’s your turn. Do you recognise how special you are? Are you learning to love the person you’re growing into or do you really wish you were a bit like someone else you know? What would it take for you to start living and loving as the person you really are?
Over to you …
Please add a comment and re-tweet.
It’s just another one of the ways you can Give A Brick and then tell your friends
Give A Brick works to support children, young people, the elderly and those experiencing financial hardship. If you enjoyed this post, please Give A Brick (just £1 ) then ask your friends to do the same.
Give A Brick is a UK registered charity #1121744
Have you seen our 1 Minute Motivators yet? They’re a great way to start your day 
The first project Give A Brick is supporting is the building work at 
What should Give A Brick support next? If you have an exciting community project that, 
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: benlumley6
February 1, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Lovely post Eleanor
Always work to your strengths – people will get more from you when you do.
Ben´s last blog ..How to be a better dad
Twitter: GiveABrick
February 1, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Thanks Ben. I agree. But it’s so easy to admire a characteristic in someone and go from that to full blown wishing you were someone else! Balance and moderation are important I suspect. It also helps if you’ve grown up with a feeling of worth
Eleanor´s last blog ..1 Minute Motivator: You Get More of What You Focus On
Twitter: ralphcarlson
February 1, 2010 at 10:17 pm
It is so hard to find something to like and even harder to find something we think others will like about us but for most of us, somebody does. How hard should it be to feel special? Not hard at all if we could stop calling ourselves ordinary. You are so right about the tasks that we discount like picing up the kids. There is nobody else that can do it like we do and nobody knows that better than the kids. It is special but we call it ordinary.
Ralph´s last blog ..The Top Ten Reasons for NOT Posting Daily
Twitter: GiveABrick
February 2, 2010 at 6:52 am
You’re right Ralph but I suspect it’s harder now because we live in times that expect too much and celebrate those that over-work. Think of all the gadgets we have that are designed to make life easier. They’re purpose is to help us do more and get there quicker. Not a good recipe for taking to time appreciate the small stuff.
Twitter: travisamorgan
February 2, 2010 at 2:17 am
I’m always a sucker for a “be yourself” post. You know that! So what can I say?? Great post!! loved it.
It’s so key that we be ourselves in life, even things that are beyond our career, etc. Keep on keepin’ on!!
Travis´s last blog ..Why Bad Things Happen to Good People
Twitter: GiveABrick
February 2, 2010 at 6:53 am
Thanks Travis. “Keep on keeping on!” Very wise
(Unless you’re walking toward the edge of a very high cliff 
)
{ 2 trackbacks }