I’m a Florida girl trying to experience a day at the “beach” in Michigan. It’s where my husband grew up and the place my kids count down to visit. Family, memories, and snow. Only this visit was a little warmer. Cold by my standards but no snow. We drove to Lake Michigan. It was my very first visit to the lake. 

As I walked along the shore with my jacket on I noticed that there weren’t many shells. Picking up shells goes hand-in-hand with a walk down a Florida beach. The shells I did see certainly weren’t worth picking up. However, I did notice a little rock. It was earth tone, unassuming, and smooth. Something about it caught my eye.

I walked with it for a bit and put it in my jacket pocket. As I continued to walk I noticed more of these different lake stones. I started to pick them up one-by-one and put them in my pocket. I found myself focused on finding these modest rocks. At the end of my walk, I emptied my pocket. The collection of these rocks all laid out together was stunning. 

They were all different shapes and sizes. Some were smooth and some were sparkly. It looked like something I would buy in the store. I picked up my original stone from the pile and it suddenly didn’t look so boring anymore. It was the perfect compliment to the other treasures I had found.

It reminded me of how God has designed each one of us.  Some of us are sparkly and some of us are a little banged up. Different shapes. Different gifts. We all serve a purpose for the kingdom. It’s hard to see it on our own. I know I can easily feel like an insignificant, dull rock at times. But when we allow ourselves to join with others and their gifts and differences, it can become something really beautiful.

God could join your gifts with others to literally change the world. Sometimes it means just taking the time to really look around and see others. The sparkly and the dull. I’m glad I scoured Lake Michigan that day. It was more beautiful than I envisioned. I didn’t leave with any shells but I took home a bag of lake stones and a renewed understanding that God can use us right now in our circumstances.

He is not waiting for us to become smoother, so why are we?!  I’m praying today you are empowered with His spirit to be you.  That you would have the courage to reach out to someone else. Accept someone reaching out to you. Fully know that you are His child, designed for a purpose that is already in process. He wants to use you today. Just as you are. 

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:4-8

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