Potential

I love the idea of what could be, in most cases. I adore the thought of the potential in a person place or thing. Have you ever thought about a possible outcome and gotten so excited you couldn’t contain it, if the outcome wasn’t what you hoped how did that make you feel?

A couple of years ago we took the kids to the Greensboro science center. After seeing some mixed reviews online I was trying to keep my expectations at a minimum. We were going to go regardless because the kids wanted to. What we found was a museum that was well put together, an aquarium that was beautiful, and we could get closer to the animals in the zoo exhibit than I ever imagined. I was blown away, the kids wouldn’t stop talking about it and they didn’t even ask to go to the gift shop, which for my kids is pretty impressive.

That is what I love about potential. If I had read the reviews, been put off, and skipped it all together we would’ve missed out on an amazing day. Instead of thinking how could this be good I decided to think more about how good this could be.

As most things in life there is also a down side to potential. I have been told there is something special in me, that I have a calling on my life, that I will make an impact. I don’t see what others see. I have doubt in me, I feel as though I have missed my calling, or ignored it all together, I do believe I will make an impact, but I am not convinced it will be a positive one. What I see is unrealized potential, wasted potential, potential failure.

I know this isn’t the way God created me. I know I was not created to be a slave to doubt, I was not made to be less than, God didn’t breathe life into me just so I could fail. So while I am focused on my failings God is working on my heart. He is showing me that while I may not be realizing the potential people saw in me, I am doing something right. While I may not be all good, Brad is not all bad. While I may spend a lot of days with tears in my eyes, I am still worthy of his Love.

As we work through life with those around us, those we love, don’t just tell them about what you think they could do, tell them how proud you are of what they’re doing now, and the impact they have made. Let them know that no matter what is in them, no matter how far they have to go, they are good enough right now.

I love you and you are making a difference.