Being Exceptional!

We have a saying in our house. The difference between being ordinary and being Exceptional is trying a little harder, or doing a little more than you have to.

When People praise me for my strength, my words, or my faith I have a very hard time accepting their compliments because I know the truth. I have no more strength than you, I have no more faith than than you, and my ability to articulate my feelings pale in comparison to the gifts of others. What I do have is a God who knows me, and he chose this exact trial for me and my family because of the intimate knowledge he has of me. He knew I was strong enough because he prepared me years ago. He knew I had the faith to rely on him because he had given me other experiences in the past that taught me to rely on him in even the small things. He knew I would have the right words to touch you and teach you through his spirit because they were his words, and he had taught me how to listen.

There is a saying that the Lord won't give us more than we can handle. Do you believe that? I believe that the Lord prepares us so that we can handle much of it, but then he sends his earthly angels to bear us up when we falter. He prepares those people too. Are we listening? When he is calling us to be the bearer of someone else's burden, are we listening? What if we don't listen? Would you condemn those around you to bear their trial alone, or will you be there to lighten their load for a while?

There was only one man who had to endure his burden on his own, In his darkest hour he plead for the cup to removed from him, and yet knowing it was his to bear alone he did his father will. In addition to those human hands, he sent us a Savior. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of being exceptional. He didn't just do more than he had too, He gave all, and it was for the least of us, and the greatest of us.

Being exceptional. In our house it means being Christlike. In a world that is cynical, and harsh. In a world where we keep our burdens to ourselves so we don't appear week, or flawed. I purpose that weak and flawed is what makes us exceptional.

Perfect people make me nervous. I assume they are either really great liars, con men, or that I have no value in their eyes because I am flawed. The thing is, I like my flaws. I will apologize for my messy kitchen when you come over, but it will be done hardheartedly, and you wont care when you are eating whatever yummy things I created while making that mess. I will probably be late because I was busy putting finishing touches on a lesson, combing someones hair, tying shoes, looking for the infamous missing shoe, or figuring out someone's last few math problems that are due in 20 minutes............and then I realized I forgot about me, so everyone's late because mom didn't want to arrive in her red flannel pajama pants she stole from daddy, with her hair in a messy bun that was once a neat bun, and no make-up on her face unless you count the bit of powdered sugar on her nose. So I'm late, Sorry? I'm flawed, but if you give me a full days notice that you are coming over I will have a clean house ( unless I can close the door) , AND look Pretty, AND give you something to eat if you're hungry. That's the thing about being exceptionally flawed. I can manage to whip up a semi gourmet meal out of seemingly nothing, but my magic does not extend to being able to rinse out a dish and reuse it when I am cooking...oh no I must use every dish I can get my hands on so the sink is overflowing with dishes. Those dishes sometimes mock me, and tell me I am a failure for not being able to cook and clean at the same time, but then my kids come home and I remember I am very talented delegator, and then Viola...those pesky condescending dishes are clean. See Exceptionally Flawed.

So I purpose this: You are exceptional! The Lord made you who you are, You are probably be an exceptional work in progress, i know I am. He is constantly preparing us for our next exceptional moment. Will you be willing to accept that moment when he calls on your particular set of exceptional flaws? Will you be that miracle for someone, and on the flip side, Will you be willing admit your flaws, and that you falter, and allow for someone else to be your miracle? The Lord never intended for us to go through this life alone. Even in those moments when we feel alone, and that this very moment is more than we can bear. Those moments when our chest aches, and it's hard to catch our breath. When the world seems to close in on us.... those moments are just that, a moment. Will you have the courage to turn to the one who suffered those moments before you? Who suffered bled and died for you, and in giving you that gift, he understands what you are going through in a way no other can? Will you give him your burden? Will you let others in, and bless them by allowing them to bless you? Will you say out-loud in this very moment, I am Exceptional! I have Worth! Your beautiful, messy, flawed version of Exceptional is exactly who the Lord needs to work miracles. He does Exceptional Miraculous things with the hands and faith of his overly flawed Children. So now you know, you were exceptional all along. You were just better at recognizing it in other people. Think of the ways you can change the world knowing that you are exactly who he needs, in exactly this moment. Thank you for being an exceptional part of my life, for blessing me, for cheering me one, and for helping to shape me into a better version of myself than I was before this particular journey.