Today’s guest post comes from my friend Destiny Alfonso, who is not only lovely herself, but has a stylish blog called A Place for Us. She blogs about home decor, entertaining, and all things beautiful (If you’re into decor like me, be sure to check her out). She also happens to love Jesus and so I invited her to share with us today.
…Or Jane. Average is a word that’s followed me most of my life. I’ve always thought of myself as an average girl. Not horribly bad,not angelically good. Just average.
Maybe it’s because I had two super smart siblings, one older and one younger, who were both labeled “gifted a”t an early age. Meanwhile, I had undiagnosed panic attacks during those gruesome second grade multiplication tests.
But then again it might be because while straight A’s put students on the honor roll, I brought home a mixture of A’s and B’s and the dreaded C. I was on the average roll.
Throughout high school I lived for sports. Volleyball was my passion.During the off season I ran on the track team. I certainly wasn’t the worst person on the team. Nor did I ever come in last place in a race. But the best? First place? Eh. Just average.
I also love music. I played the clarinet and used that knowledge to teach myself to play the piano. I remember recording myself on my pink and teal boom box singing Brandy and Monica “That Boy is Mine”… It was ok. Not GREAT. Actually, it was pretty funny. Yep… just average.
It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized that I was labeling myself average. Every time I would try something new and have some success at it I would find myself saying, well, you’re not the best so maybe this isn’t for you.
Then one day as I was doing my daily devotional I came across a line that hit home… God doesn’t need you to be the best, he just needs you to be available. This entire time I was crossing spiritual gifts and talents off my list because I was just okay at them. Thinking that surely if I have a talent that God wanted me to use, I would be the best at it. I assumed I needed to be better than everyone else if God was going to use me in a certain area.
I call it the spotlight syndrome. Growing up in a world where those who are talented are praised and put on a pedestal, you start to believe that’s what being talented is– being in the spotlight. It’s funny because whenever I did win competitions or received attention because of my accomplishments, it was the most uncomfortable place to be. I became bashful, shy, and quickly returned any compliments that came my way.
But the word “average” has a different meaning to me now. It means that I must submit to a different plan, a plan very different from my own at times. I understand now, I must check my intentions and my actions because I already know that all of my talents are His. The day I gave my life to the Lord I gave Him permission to do as He will with them.
I may not see my skills or abilities as valuable in my own eyes at times, but I know He sees so much more. While I may only see myself as average, He only cares that I am available. The Bible proves that it’s the ordinary, average people He uses most. And I don’t want to miss out on Him using me.
Have you ever struggled with feeling “average” or comparing yourself to others? How has God used you in some extraordinary way?
Destiny is married to her college sweetheart…Mr Right. They have 3 beautiful children. She describes her blog, A Place For Us, “as a place to share the transformation of my cookie cutter house into the home of OUR dreams….a place that family will gather, kids will grow up, a place to put up my feet, have neighbors over, a safe place…here words are spoken with the intent to reflect the unconditional love of Jesus…” You can find her on Twitter and Facebook, as well.
