One Size

I will never. ever. forget.

I was in junior high and my family was camping with friends. {I just have to say “junior high” and you know this can’t be good, right? ha!}

My friend’s mother took all our laundry to the laundry mat so we had clean clothes to wear for the extended trip… and when she came back, she mixed up some of the clothes.

I had my best pair of 501 jeans… and apparently my friend’s older {skinny} brother did too. I will never forget him yelling from his tent,

“Mom!! These aren’t mine! They are TOO BIG!”

I was mortified because these jeans that were too big were mine.

I laugh now. When I was 12, however, I was more than embarrassed that my jeans were too big for a boy that was older than me.

Now that I’m older, I know that we are all so different. Even if we wear the same size – the fit is different. What I find to be the most comfortable pair of jeans is absolutely the least comfortable for my best friend. We are all just so different.

I’ve spent a lot of time this year mulling over Spiritual Gifts that our King has entrusted us with… today I read this quote and it reminded me of those jeans.

“When I realize that God makes his gifts fit each person,
there’s no way I can covet what you got because it just wouldn’t fit me.”

My friend’s brother didn’t want my jeans because they didn’t fit. They weren’t for him. If only we can look at our gifting the same way.

What you have is entrusted to you because it is the perfect fit for YOU. What I have is entrusted to me because it is the perfect fit for ME. Only you can be who God made you to be… and only you can fit into the place He has for you.

It’s like a puzzle. You can’t force a puzzle piece to fit where it doesn’t belong… it just doesn’t fit. In fact, if you do happen to force it in, the masterpiece – or completed picture – isn’t right. Every piece has to go where it was created to go. Every piece has it’s purpose. Whether a corner or a center piece… all are unique and all are needed.

The grass is always {always!} greener on the other side… but you get to that other side and you see that your side was green all along.

Are you struggling with the hand you have been dealt?
Do you wish you were a different piece of the puzzle?
Or, maybe you think you could do better if only…

In Matthew 25, we see the parable of the talents. Three slaves are chosen by the master and given varying amounts of treasure to steward in his absence. Two of the three slaves invested and doubled their money for their master. One slave hid his treasure to preserve it. This guy hid it because he was afraid… and he was afraid because he didn’t know his master. If you read the beginning of the story, you discover that the master chose these slaves and entrusted them with what he knew was what they could each handle. The master knew what he was doing… and as the story plays out we see this to be true.

Know this.

Your King knows you… and He loves you deeply. He has chosen you and has entrusted you with a treasure.  It isn’t a one-size-fits-all-treasure though.

The issue really isn’t how big or how much the treasure is.
The issue is – what are you going to do with it?

Perhaps we ought to stop wishing we had a different outfit to wear and put on what the King of kings has given us… I guarantee you it is beautiful.