I woke up this morning in ponder-mode. Throughout the day when I had a break I went back there, and again this evening… pondering how we as parents, teachers, coaches, etc. can so easily send the wrong messages to kids. A kid is known to be very smart, to be a leader, to be a strong athlete, to be someone that works hard and is pegged to be the best, and we pounce on them with our expectations – that they will be the class president, be in charge of this club, be the captain on that team, hold a 4.0 and …… Not that laying out high expectations is bad. We must teach kids to have high expectations for themselves. I appreciate the saying, “reach for the moon, and if you fall you will land among the stars.”
What I’m saying is this: when we see the potential in kids that stand out, do we send a message that they won’t be good enough unless they are the best in the class, or the sport, or whatever it might be? When they don’t get the top spot do we still, in the midst of the disappointment, genuinely celebrate with them for doing their best? Do we teach them to use that as motivation to keep working hard while helping them believe their best is enough?
What about the one who has high potential but they don’t stand out? A star player has to sit out, and all of a sudden someone goes above and beyond what everyone thought they could do, and they help bring the team home. But up until that point, had anyone been building them up, pouring into them? Potential is not always the most visible thing in a person at first.
As I continued, my conclusion to my ponderings today brings me to this: God doesn’t make a mistake in how He wants to use us, and all the things He puts in our path to turn us in His direction. Just because someone is pegged to be the best in something doesn’t mean they are supposed to be. And just because someone seems like they have no potential doesn’t mean they aren’t worth our time. It’s possible, even probable, that God can do His best work in us when we are not the best. It’s possible that He wants to use us as “second best” – the assist for the goal. And the person who steps up is not supposed to be overlooked anymore. And really, no matter what, we will always be second best … because only God can be the absolute best.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11