What You Have That No One Else Does

God is always faithful at teaching me life-altering lessons.

The kind of lessons that leave me shaking my head in frustration with myself.

They're always simple lessons, but I always make them more complicated because I refuse yield.

Yield.

It's a small word, so why is it impossible for me to do sometimes?

As a teacher, I've come to rely tremendously on my God-given talent to over-prepare and then go with the flow.

Oh, there's also that God-given talent that allows me to stand before a room full of people and not once feel a twinge of nervousness in my gut.

But I pray. Oh, do I pray. I pray about my lessons, my students, my testimony, my protection.

Prayer helps me carry on conversations easily and with God's help I have mastered the art of small talk.

So, when an unexpected phone call caught me off guard, telling me I was failing in these areas, the last thing I wanted to do was 'yield'.

Instead, I listed off credentials, told myself it wasn't my fault, and then decided I was determined to prove myself worthy of the title I had been given.

Then, I wanted to quit and give up. A few days later, I wanted to sit down and yell at the people who had caused me grief.

They made me feel small and unimportant. They made me question what I was put on this earth to do.

Truth be told, I felt worthless.

But here's the thing: I matter.

And God gently reminded me that even if I didn't have the credentials, the recommendations, and a good reputation, I'm still His. And because I'm His I'll always be loved and adored and important. There will always be a place for me in His kingdom. I'm not just a woman trying to make a good life for herself and sharing her talents with this world; I'm the daughter of the Creator of the Universe whose power is limitless.

Even if I had no talent--even if I had nothing to offer--I'd still be important in the eyes of God.

No one can take that from me.

So, I brushed it off. I said one big, long prayer and thanked God for the simple fact that even when I'm nothing to this world, I'm still His everything.

Here's what I've learned in the past two weeks:

I have what no one else has.

I live in a way that's different from everyone else.

I have unique quirks and talents.

I have the ability to do things for people that no one else can.

And my dear friend, SO DO YOU.

You matter.

You are important.

You are UNIQUELY YOU.

When the world tries to tear you apart, remember these words: "The one thing you have that nobody else has is YOU. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and live only as YOU can."