So close, yet so far...

We’ve lived in our current neighborhood since April, 2012. That’s 4 years and 6 months. Put another way, we’ve lived in our home for 54 months. Why does that matter? I’m glad you asked! You see, there are 45 homes in our sweet, little subdivision. That means we’ve lived in our neighborhood long enough for every family to be selected Yard of the Month at least once. And yet the honor has continued to evade the Conlee family. Shocking, right?Each month, I wait with baited breath to see if the coveted sign will magically appear one morning. No such luck. I’m not sure if it’s the inadequate edging of the flowerbeds, the multitude of different plants that make up the agricultural design, or the fact that the person cutting the lawn recently may or may not have ADHD. Or maybe it’s the fact that the Bermuda grass can’t seem to keep his hands off the monkey grass. I’m just sayin’.Apparently, the decision-making committee hasn’t towered to the “everybody gets a trophy” mentality. This is actually a relief to me. Just like it was a relief when our neighbor (who owned a landscaping company) moved. It was like a wave of shame every time I looked across the street at his yard.While I think about it, I’ve never won a pageant, either. I haven’t even entered one because I don’t have one single, stinking talent. I can’t sing. I can’t dance. I have no rhythm. This issue not only keeps me from a tiara, but it tends to keep me from being the life of the party. I’m pretty sure that’s the only thing holding me back there. So close, yet so far…What shall I do?I’ll rest in what matters.And I’d encourage you to do the same.It’s time to appreciate the strengths you have and not waste one ounce of energy trying to be someone you’re not. Just because I don’t have a “talent,” that doesn’t mean I don’t have strengths. I bring value to this world and so do you.We still tend to our yard to be a responsible neighbor. Being an eyesore isn’t a good testimony, so that’s not an option. But if we never have the sign in our yard, God isn’t going to love us any less. In a world where we’re quick to recognize our weaknesses, may we be grateful for the strengths we have. Enjoy them. Use them. Bless other people with them. And then be perfectly okay with a lack of rhythm and a plethora of weeds.[bctt tweet="Where we’re quick to recognize our weaknesses, may we be grateful for the strengths we have."]