I was helping his little brother get ready for church. As I recall, he wearing an adorable pair of khakis and button up vest – the perfect little outfit for a little man.
“Can I ask you something, Auntie,” my nephew asked cautiously.
“What is it, sweetheart?” I asked.
“Why do you, umm, have trouble walking?” he asked hesitantly.
His careful wording and kind tone were not wasted on me. He was all of six, yet he understood being respectful and polite.
I pondered how to answer him – I had been anticipating answering this question for a while now. Unlike anyone else in our large family, and even in our acquaintance, I walked with a significant limp and knocked knees.
Suddenly, I remembered a parable I had read recently. The story was familiar and so applicable. It seemed to come to life in a new way.
“Well,” I began, “there is a story in the Bible that helps to explain why I have trouble walking. Once Christ was teaching when men brought a lame man in to him on a bed to be healed. People began to whisper amongst themselves pondering why the man on the bed was lame.”
“‘Do you suppose it is because he sinned and this was his punishment,’ some suggested. ‘No, he has been lame since birth,’ another responded. ‘He must have been punished for a sin either his father or mother committed.'”
“As Christ was listening to all their ideas and speculations,” I continued, “He realized they didn’t truly understand why the man was lame. So he quieted them and said, ‘Many of you are guessing as to why this man is lame – whether it is because of a sin he or his parents committed. I tell you that is not why.'”
“‘Why is he lame then?’ the people asked, eager to understand.”
“‘It is so that you might see God’s glory. He is unlike others, not to draw attention to himself, but to bring glory to God. If he was like every one else, he would not stand out as different. But he stands out as unique so that he might make others aware of God.'”
“And that’s why I walk differently then others,” I told my sweet little nephew. “Not to struggle or to stick out as awkward, but to bring glory to God. To draw others to Him and His incredible love for His people.”
And I truly believe that. We are created with our own unique differences, what some may see as flaws. But let me tell you, they are the differences that give us the opportunity to reflect God to others. Now this doesn’t mean that we don’t do our best with what we have, but it most definitely doesn’t mean that we walk around with a chip on our shoulder due to our uniqueness.
My walking is far better and smoother than it was when my nephew asked me about it twelve years ago. And I rejoice in that! I believe that the best way to improve where you are or what you have is to gracefully embrace it as part of God’s unique plan for your life. Your life won’t look like mine and mine won’t look like yours. But that is the beauty of it! God doesn’t create duplicates – He creates one of a kinds! So let’s gracefully be the best one of a kind that we can be – for Him!
Take this idea and let it encourage you from the inside out! Perhaps it is the need to wear glasses, maybe you walk with a limp, or maybe you don’t even walk at all. Whatever your struggle, recognize it as an opportunity to give God your very best – no strings attached.
But don’t stop there! Work to improve yourself, your area that you struggle with, for God! My walking certainly didn’t improve itself. But through years (and years!) of exercise, chiropractic care and good nutrition, I have seen vast improvement that would not have happened without the effort!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. Physical struggles can be trying and difficult. But with the right attitude they can truly catapult us further than we ever thought possible! Read a bit more about overcoming physical struggles here: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2016/11/07/i-never-thought-of-that/