My Special Talent

Don't you just love talented people? I am always amazed at people's skills and talents. Isn't unbelievable to sit and listen to someone play the piano in ways that just move you, or sing so beautifully that you cry? Talent looks so different. One of my friends special skills is teaching in a way that captures students' interests and makes them see that they are capable of more than they realized. Everyone seems to have a talent of their own. My special talent seems to be putting my foot in my mouth. I am amazing at it. Everyone can see that is about to happen, even me, but yet I seem powerless to stop it. I try to think before I speak but I think the connector between my brain and jaw short circuited years ago! You would think that my foot is made of chocolate with amount of times that I have had to eat it.

One of the favorite things that I have done in the past is to explain something to someone who turns out to be an expert. You know when you might have read an article in a magazine about something and now think you know a lot and then explain it to someone else. That person is usually very gracious and listens attentively. However, later you friend pulls you aside and tells you that the person you were just talking to was the creator, or the foremost expert, or something else ridiculous like that. My life is so full of the ridiculous. And, unfortunately, I never learn!

But, it gets worse. I do the same thing with God. I try to tell Him how to do things, how I think things should be done, what I think is best. I question Him, get angry at Him. And, as embarassing as it is to say, I even throw little tantrums trying to get my way with God. Imagine a 2 year old who wants to play with a toy that is his brother's. He rolls over on his stomach and bangs his fist crying and screaming NO! You have just witnessed my reaction to God most of the time. I don't know why I don't just trust Him. Why do I want things my own way? Why do I think I know more than God? Where does this arrogance come from?

And, God does not give me the whooping that my backside deserves. He picks me up and holds me and waits for me to finish my tantrum and then gently comforts me. Every time, He is right. Every time, He is good. Every time, He is loving and gracious.

I am not sure that I will ever change. Hopefully, with age and maturity, the amount of times I stick my foot in my mouth will decrease. The amazing part is that God knows it all. He knows how much of a mess I really am and still loves me!