Her voice sounds flustered, “I got caught up in a craft project and totally lost track of time. What’s the matter with me?”
Or she writes over email, “I don’t know why it bugs me so much when people are rude at the grocery store. I’m so sensitive. What’s the matter with me?”
Maybe I think to myself, “I can’t believe I missed another detail. Other people are so thorough. What’s the matter with me?”
In all of the scenarios above, the key is flipping that question. Instead of “What’s the matter with me?” we need to ask, “What does it say about what really matters to me?”
Look back at all three of those statements. Can you see the values hiding within them?
The first woman values creativity.
The second kindness.
And me? Well, I value big-picture dreaming.
We all have core values that guide our lives. They’re usually tied closely to the core strengths God has given us. And because of that, they’re not likely to change. Nor should they.
We are human beings with limited time, resources and energy. We can’t have it all, all at once. So we have to make choices every day based on what matters most.
For example, we pick between having a perfect house or extra time for the people who live in it.
But we can’t do both.
That doesn’t give us permission to ignore the issues that can come from our “weaknesses.” For example, I know I need to find detail-oriented folks to help me in certain areas.
However, it does give us freedom to see what may look like “weaknesses” to us in a different way–as part of God’s design for us, strategically placed so that we focus on what He has for us to do and let other things go.
So lay down the guilt that you’re not the way you think you have to be.
And pick up the grace to accept who you are–even the parts you wish could change.
Let go of asking, “What’s the matter with me?”
And instead simply embrace what really matters.
Then go get ’em, girl.
