My Weakness

Growing up, especially in my pre-teen and teen years, so many times I felt (was) weak.

I feared losing friends if I wasn’t like them, not realizing they were going through the same struggles. I was so inward focused and self-conscious – it’s a horrible place to be…really a selfish place where I couldn’t see what other kids might need and if I could be a friend to them.

On school mornings it would take 1/2 hour to decide what to wear…going through mentally who all might see me and whether they would like what I wore. We didn’t have a lot of money and my wardrobe was mostly thrift shop or handmade, not fancy matching sweater and skirt sets like other girls.

Because I was so concerned about me, I couldn’t even think about others so I would avoid being around people. It wasn’t until my early 20’s I began to wonder why I was like this. I was convinced every time people were talking in a group they were talking about me, but suddenly I realized it was all a lie! I wasn’t talking badly about them. Why did I think they were talking about me? Isn’t it crazy how our thoughts can tell us things that aren’t true!

When I saw the inferiority feelings for what they were, that I was no different than anybody else, I decided to move forward and on purpose go up to people and talk to them. It was hard, but each time it became easier and over time I looked for people who might need someone to befriend them.

I’m still tempted from time to time to go hide and avoid being around people. That is when I know I must! I must not give in to feelings of self-consciousness or inferiority. People across my path need my ‘new found strength’ of friendliness to help them be strong…goes back to being a load-lifter doesn’t it?

Weak or strong, we are all needed to help lift others higher.

Do you have a weakness you could turn into a strength to comfort someone else?