Strength and Weakness: One and the same?
Have you ever noticed that your greatest strength can also be your greatest weakness? Of all the truths I have learned in my thirty some odd years on the planet, I believe this is one of the greatest.
This phenomenon shows up very early in life. If you don't believe me, watch small children sometime. Let's use little Susie, for example. Susie is only two, but it is already obvious that she is a most independent and helpful child. No one has to tell her to brush her little teeth, because she rushes into the bathroom first thing after each meal to grab her brush and put on a huge dollop of flavored toothpaste. She practically potty trained herself at a year and loves to help Mommy make the beds and fold the laundry.
So it is no surprise that when Baby Brother Johnny comes along that Susie is right on board to help. The only problem is that Susie eagerness often nearly costs little Johnny his life. Like when she tries to fill his crib with stuffed animals to keep him company--fortunately, Mommy discovers this before Johnny smothers under the weight of his own toys. Or when she tries to feed Johnny his bottle and ends up sticking the nipple in so far that it gags him. Or when she attempts to carry little Johnny into Mommy's room with her arms hooked tightly around his neck so that Johnny is halfway to choking before Mommy saves him just in time.
Little Susie's body will eventually catch up with her helpful spirit giving her the potential to be a virtual dynamo. But she, like everyone else, will encounter these problems all her life. Hopefully, she will learn the art of balance, of walking "the straight and narrow," with her strengths rather than weaving all over the road like a drunken driver. If she does, she will be able to accomplish much. If she doesn't--well, there are lots of stories we could compare that to.
How about the forgiving person who gets treated like a doormat all of their lives because they can never learn that FORGIVE doesn't have to mean FORGET when someone has repeatly knocked them to the ground and stomped all over their ass? Or the person with strong leadership skills who can never learn how to work with other people because they're just too dang bossy? Or the outgoing and friendly person who is so nosy and loud that people can hardly stand to be around them after awhile? How effective could these people be if they would just learn how to hone their strengths toward a purpose, thereby ruling their lives WITH their strengths rather than letting their own personalities lead them around by the nose?
Stop and think about this today. What is your greatest strength? And how often does this very thing become a weakness? I'm interested in your comments.
Have you ever noticed that your greatest strength can also be your greatest weakness? Of all the truths I have learned in my thirty some odd years on the planet, I believe this is one of the greatest.
This phenomenon shows up very early in life. If you don't believe me, watch small children sometime. Let's use little Susie, for example. Susie is only two, but it is already obvious that she is a most independent and helpful child. No one has to tell her to brush her little teeth, because she rushes into the bathroom first thing after each meal to grab her brush and put on a huge dollop of flavored toothpaste. She practically potty trained herself at a year and loves to help Mommy make the beds and fold the laundry.
So it is no surprise that when Baby Brother Johnny comes along that Susie is right on board to help. The only problem is that Susie eagerness often nearly costs little Johnny his life. Like when she tries to fill his crib with stuffed animals to keep him company--fortunately, Mommy discovers this before Johnny smothers under the weight of his own toys. Or when she tries to feed Johnny his bottle and ends up sticking the nipple in so far that it gags him. Or when she attempts to carry little Johnny into Mommy's room with her arms hooked tightly around his neck so that Johnny is halfway to choking before Mommy saves him just in time.
Little Susie's body will eventually catch up with her helpful spirit giving her the potential to be a virtual dynamo. But she, like everyone else, will encounter these problems all her life. Hopefully, she will learn the art of balance, of walking "the straight and narrow," with her strengths rather than weaving all over the road like a drunken driver. If she does, she will be able to accomplish much. If she doesn't--well, there are lots of stories we could compare that to.
How about the forgiving person who gets treated like a doormat all of their lives because they can never learn that FORGIVE doesn't have to mean FORGET when someone has repeatly knocked them to the ground and stomped all over their ass? Or the person with strong leadership skills who can never learn how to work with other people because they're just too dang bossy? Or the outgoing and friendly person who is so nosy and loud that people can hardly stand to be around them after awhile? How effective could these people be if they would just learn how to hone their strengths toward a purpose, thereby ruling their lives WITH their strengths rather than letting their own personalities lead them around by the nose?
Stop and think about this today. What is your greatest strength? And how often does this very thing become a weakness? I'm interested in your comments.
posted by Lexie Ward at 11:39 AM
5 Comments:
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I have this problem in spades. I am very good with people and can bridge the gap between certain individuals that don't usually mix, but I, in general, avoid people.
Also, I love playing for people and offering them the gifts and talents that God has given me but I have to be careful to still effect their lives one on one. Private teaching has done this for me.
I used to think that private teaching was going to be a way to make some easy substantial cash, but now I realize what a HUGE witness and example I set for the kids that I teach. I didn't realize how much they look up to me.
Duh, I know, but when you are so wrapped up in yourself then you can really miss simple things like this.
Sometimes the simplest things are the things we miss the most because they are such a part of our nature. They become like the two scars on the back of my leg--always there but often forgotten for long periods of time.
The trick is to figure out what those strong/weak aspects of your character are and then to be aware of how you are using those aspects. It seems that you are doing that already. I'm proud of you.
thanks sis! How did you get those scars anyway? I forgot about those.
you know i have this problem. it is so ingrained in me to get walked on, and to forgive and really forget that i don't have the slightest idea how to change. no idea whatsoever. any thoughts? is just being aware of it enough?
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