Hiding From Yourself

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Have you looked in the mirror and not recognized yourself as a hero? Many of us don’t think of ourselves as heroes. But we were created to be heroes. All of us have special skills, just like heroes.

How do you recognize a hero? Not by the cape and mask, but by the way he acts. How does a hero act? He uses his abilities to help others.

Romans 12:6 reminds each of us that we have a valuable gift that is to be used and not ignored. Having the gift doesn’t make you special. Using the gift does.

Romans 12:3 reminds us to think of ourselves with sober judgment. That means to use your gift with all humility. Yes, you are important and special, but you’re not the only one who is. Verse five reminds us that we are all members of one body, and we belong to each other. Do long arms help the hands reach for something on a high shelf? Do fast feet help the chest cross the finish line? Your gift is important to the rest of the body.

Galatians 6:9 warns us not to tire of helping others. Give diligently and tirelessly. Why? Because volunteers are needed. Look around in your community at the many opportunities to volunteer. Do you have carpentry skills? You can volunteer at Habitat for Humanity. Do you have people skills? You can help out in a nursing home. Right now is the perfect time to give your abilities to help others.

Many of us hear about the opportunities and think we can’t do a good enough job. When we do that, we’re hiding from ourselves, hiding behind an excuse. The truth is simply that we have skills that can benefit others.

Recently, my daughter and I used our artistic abilities to help nursing home residents create roses out of modeling clay. We gave up some of our free time this summer to help out people who really appreciated it. They wanted to visit with us, so we chatted. They were delighted with our company and our artistic instruction. It was a time of mutual enjoyment and encouragement. I’m sure we’ll be back there to help a few more times this summer.

So now it’s up to you. Are you someone’s hero already? If not, you can be. Stop hiding and act like the hero you were created to be.