Monday, July 23, 2007

Differences

This past weekend our daughter was home for the weekend. She came home to go to a friend’s concert, do laundry and shop. Does this sound familiar to anyone? It was such a great little visit. I love that her school is only two hours away.

Driving her back, we had this conversation about intelligence. She’s been doing quite well in school and Tom says she takes after me. Granted I did have good grades in school, but I studied and worked at it. As proof of my intelligence, he mentioned my average in senior year (98). In my junior year when we were dating I did tutor him in trigonometry, but it’s not because I was smarter than him. I pointed out the fact that he didn’t apply himself. He is a very intelligent man. He just chose to play stick ball with his brothers rather than go to class at times. If he knew then what he knows now, then he would have been a straight A student.

My kids didn’t have any trouble with their abilities to learn. I’m truly grateful. If they did, I would have adapted to help them do their best. Report card time I would tell them: A’s are awesome, B’s are beautiful, C’s are could do better, D’s are don’t go there and F’s are forget about it you will never see the light of day until that grade comes up. They were both capable of doing better than D’s and F’s.

I have always encouraged them to do their best realizing that each child is different and their approach to learning was different. I didn’t compare one to another because I didn’t like that when I was a kid. I knew what they were capable of and encouraged them to do better than that. I’m very proud of my children and what they accomplished thus far. They are hard workers and my heart is pleased that they are pursuing their dreams. They have many characteristics of both Tom and I.

If I’m proud of my children and want them to succeed, how much more does the Father in heaven want me to succeed in what I do? I know He doesn’t compare one of His kids to another. Why do we compare our gifts and talents to others? We are all different. How we learn is different. How we teach is different. How we worship is different. How we walk out our faith is different. Different isn’t bad it’s just…different. It’s what makes the world go round. Life would be boring if we were all the same. Let’s embrace the differences we see in each other, like we embrace the differences in our children. I leave you with this scripture from 1 Corinthians 12:12-20:

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.

© Nadine Z. 2007

Artwork by Oscar Basurtow

19 comments:

KAYLEE said...

GREAT POST AND I am on new medicines now and dinner was great!

Susan said...

I am constantly reminding myself of how much God loves not only me, but all my children and grandchildren.
Susan

Deb said...

Yup I hear ya with the daughter coming home to visit. When Jac came home it was to visit and EAT. I'm glad she moved back home once college was over. I'll enjoy her for a little while longer. Blue hair and all!

Awsome post again! You never stop blowing me away with your posts! I was just reading the title of a podcast yesterday on this topic. The sermon was preached by Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church.

D said...

I needed to hear this today! Thank you! ...and oh! that chicken parmesan looks delicious!

Knit-Wit said...

Our pastor has been preaching on Corinthians lately. Isn't it cool how God can use two different sources to drive home the same message?

Trina said...

I totally agree with everything you just said. Encouragement and application can go a long way. I need to remember these things as I continue on my journey of educating my children. Thanks for sharing!

Emancipation of the Freed said...

Such wisdom from one so cute! I'm a blessed man.

:)

Jessica said...

I LOVE THIS, NADINE.

I've been coming to this same revelation... I love how unique people are! I just love how each of us have our own stories to tell, our own revelation of who God is and how he works, our own beauty to share with the world. It's so true, and I love that you wrote about it.

Fantastic, my dear.

- Jess <><

Anonymous said...

Well said... bless you :)

eph2810 said...

Nadine, I always like the Scripture passage. I so agree with you, just as our children are different, so are we all different. He made us different, so the world would be not so boring :)...
I think it is neat that you don't compare your children to each other. I was blessed that my parents always saw us as individuals.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.

palmtreefanatic said...

what a beautiful post Nadine!
you are so right!
we are all unique and different!
Blessings,

Anonymous said...

Look, I'm commenting! When I think about the differences between my brother and me, I realize that his strengths always inspired me to try harder in those areas, or to appreciate him more. But if my parents had compared us, neither one of us would have been the better for it. Makes sense it would be the same way in the Kingdom of God.
Glad to hear L's doing well.
-Jill

Anonymous said...

We went to church this past Sunday for the first time in well...too long. I thought of you and your husband as we left :)

I try not to compare and judge ...

Louise said...

WELL put!! AMEN!

Tammy said...

Funny how though we are about the same age, we are in completely different seasons of life! :) It will be awhile before my girls go off to college...but the strange thing is that I can completely remember like yesterday being the college girl, coming home for some security, home cooking and..to do my laundry. ;)

So true that God wants each of us to succeed and that He made us all as individuals.

I also wanted to thank you for your sweet words of encouragement on my post...it truly blessed me. (((HUGS)))

Diane Viere said...

This post convicted me! I fear that the weight of this world cause me to choose just getting by with a spiritual C. Now I know better.....a "Could do better" just isn't going to cut it any longer!

Thanks for the boost!

Diane

Celestine said...

read your intro. so you're a writer? what other books have you written?? so exciting... :)

Anonymous said...

It is great that you never compared your children, and only encouraged them. You clearly did a wonderful job raising your kids! You should be proud, just as they should be proud to have the parents they have!!

Jane, P&B Girls

Shionge said...

What a joy Nadine and to know that your children did well in their studies & endeavour certainly warm your heart :D