Have you ever met someone who has the ability to disagree with people, but no one gets mad at them?  Someone who can diffuse a conversation effortlessly?  Or better yet, the person who can be attacked and never seem to lose their cool?  They are quick on their feet and smart with their words.

I wish I was one of those people … I’m just not.

I get flustered and red-faced.  My heart races and I can’t think about anything else except the fact that my heart is beating in the back of my throat.  I say the wrong thing at the wrong time and I lose my temper.  I struggled with this a lot when I was working at Kohl’s.  I’d find myself in a conference room totally losing my composure and no idea on how to gain my control back.

I’ve worked hard on being better at thinking on my feet.  I’ve taught myself a few “key phrases” that I can say that allows me a few seconds or minutes to grab hold of the situation.  But honestly, I’ve started to think it’s impossible to have that kind of composure all of the time.  And those who can … they have a secret superpower.  Truth be told, I wish I had that superpower too 🙂

If I ever find a genie in a lamp I know what my first wish is going to be haha!

As far as I know there aren’t any genies.  And I haven’t found a superhero-mart anywhere.  So what do I do?  I’ve read blogs, I taken some classes while I worked at Kohl’s, asked for mentoring advice from those in my life who have the coveted superhero.  What I realize though, is that it isn’t something I can do on my own.  I can’t will myself to be different.  I don’t have the strength on my own.

I need to pray.  I need to ask the one person in my life that can offer me part of that superhero power.  Sure I could continue to read scripture and self-help books and talk to all of my closest friends and family – but what good is that going to do if I can’t have the power within me to withstand the attacks from others?  I can have all the tools in the world, but if I don’t have the strength to swing the hammer – I’ll never build the house.

A mom at my Thursday morning mom’s group shared the following quote:

Have you prayed about it as much as you talk about it?

I was immediately convicted.  I am soooooo guilty of talking a lot about my problems or fears.  I sort of assume that since God is all-knowing he already knows what is on my heart.  I don’t need to actually tell Him something He already knows, right?  WRONG!

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” – Luke 21:34-36

It sometimes feels so opposite of what I should be doing.  I feel like there is something I should be DOING to learn this skill.  But that’s not what I think God is telling me.  He is telling me to rest.  To fold my hands, bow my head and rest in his presence.  Turn it all over.  Give up everything – the good and the bad.  Yes He knows what’s on my heart – but He still wants me to talk with Him about it.

Think about your parents.  Didn’t they usually know when you were upset as a kid?  But they waited for you to come to them before offering help.  They didn’t interject into your life.  Ok – maybe they did – I think all parents are guilty of this at one point or another – but should they have?  As a parent myself, I try to do the same.  I try to give Jaden some space to see if he can figure it out.  When he comes to me not only do I feel loved, but I also have the opportunity to offer my input in a loving way.  God is like the world’s greatest and most understanding parent.  He’ll help you – but you’ve got to pursue him.  He’s just waiting for us.  He knows that we aren’t truly listening unless we are in prayer.

Having God on your side … now THAT is a real superpower that ANYONE can have!

Love, Mel