Today the little girl inside me surfaced. I got passed over for an opportunity and it hurt.
In my mind, I thought I should be old enough to not have it hurt. Haven't I outgrown the need for someone to see I have potential? Apparently not. It's been there for a long time too.
I looked back and saw a small 6-year-old with freckles and barrettes in her first-grade classroom. She anxiously raised her hand in class, hoping the teacher would see her and call on her to answer. She knew the answer. She wanted to share it. But the teacher looked right past her and called on someone else. She lowered her hand, and sighed.
Then she was 12, and hoped her chorus teacher would think she had potential. Did she have a voice that was good enough to do a solo or be put in a quartet of girls? Did her teacher notice her voice? She stood on the back riser with the other tall alto girls and watched while petite sopranos got to sing.
She was no longer a little girl, but a college graduate looking for her first job. Would anyone see that she had writing and administrative skills. Would anyone see her potential and give her a chance?
Would she be asked to dance, picked for the team, selected for the promotion, asked to go to lunch with the girls, picked for the speaking event, have her book purchased on Amazon?
Seems I'm always hoping that someone sees my potential. Looks deeper than the surface. Gives me a chance. Believes in me.
I don't think I'll outgrow it. I've worked through this issue long ago, so I don't depend on any one's approval for my sense of self worth. I know my value is found in Christ and Christ alone. But the truth is, it still hurts when I'm passed over.
So here's what I've vowed to do. When I have the chance, I will let you know that I see your potential. I'll see it, because I will look for it. I will see your potential in your writing, in your leadership, in your creative talent, and in your effort to be the woman God has called you to be.
I know you won't ever outgrow the need for someone to see your potential. No matter how old you are. Or if you get sick. Or if you are knee-deep in diapers. Or if you mess up really bad. Or if you are unprepared, or overwhelmed, or grief-stricken.
You still have potential as long as you are breathing. I promise.
God always sees it. And if given the opportunity, I will too.
In His Love,
Glynnis
P.S. This is the perfect opportunity to let you know about She Speaks. I'll be there, as the director of the writer's track. And this year, for the first time in history, we have scholorships available due to the generocity of Cecil Murphey, author extraordinaire. Read my friend Lysa's blog for all the details.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
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4 comments:
Glynnis,
For Lent, I have been sending out cards. The vast majority are thank you notes. Thank you for speaking up about this, for taking care of this job, etc. Like you, I have been trying to notice the people around me.
Maybe this seemed important to me because, like you, I'm still the little girl who hopes someone will notice.
Thank you for noticing others! I'm sure you are making their days.
--SueBE
Glynnis, thank you, thank you, thank you!! This post made me think about the post you wrote about encouraging your children. When I was working I would do things wrong at times. My boss would get on my case about it and even get upset with me sometimes but she would also tell me I was doing a good job. After a few years this encouragement stoppd. When I thought the only thing I could do for her was to answer the phones, which is what my job was at first, my boss saw that I had potential and could do more. She made me the supervisor over the other employees. She had me opening up the business and getting things started for the day. There were many days where I worked by myself and helped the customers who came into our store. My boss would not let me use being blind as a reason for not doing something she believed I could do once I found a way to do what she needed done.
Your post reminded me that even though there are many times when I don't think I have any potential Jesus thinks I do.
Many people don't realize what a difference they could make in the life of others just by affirming them and believing in them, especially in times when they doubt themselves. There are times when we do feel that way, and we shouldn't be too harsh on ourselves for being less than perfect. In truth, our down times helps us not to become too proud to grow and become better. Let us continue to love ourselves though, and may we have friends who can lift us up in times when we can't find the strength to do so. ;)
Hi Glynnis & lovely ladies. Great post & encouraging responses. Man....or should I say woman!....being a woman with these things called hormones seems to make it all the more difficult to stay positive & focused on the truth regarding who we are & whose we are & how those truths give us such great worth & purpose (run on sentence?). Right now I am tired & my to-do list is lengthy & I have to work with my husband with marketing for his business along with kids, shopping & home. Sound familiar? There are times when these tasks bring great feelings of purpose & joy...& then there are days when these same tasks seem like death. Ha! Moody woman. God gave us these amazing emotions that fuel so much intimacey & beauty but with any gift, it can also fuel the EXACT opposite if you do not stay rooted in what you know to be true DESPITE how you feel.
Do I have any moody sisters out there? Ha! Loved the posts & I value them so much. You all give me such encouragement to keep going no matter how I feel & stay focused on what really matters.
In Christ...Pam K.
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