The lady said flippantly as I stood in line.

“It’s not really that hard,” I replied, “just follow the directions.”

“I just can’t cook! I wish I could, but I ruin everything!”

The woman standing in the market said.

“It’s really not that hard,” I replied, “just follow the directions.”

“I just can’t sew! I wish I could, but I always get it all messed up.”

The young woman said while looking through the craft magazine next to me at the dentist office.

“It’s really not that hard,” I replied, “just follow the directions.”

I could go on but I think you get the picture. Why don’t we follow the directions? Why do we give up? Gardeners are not born gardeners, cooks and not born cooks. They have to work hard, they have to learn, try and fail. So what makes them a gardener? Not giving up. What makes them a cook? Not giving up. Sure, some people are naturally good at some things, but you know what makes the average person a great person? Dedication, determination and a drive to learn. As one Harris brother put it “To say, ‘I’m just not good at this’ is just as ridiculous as a toddler telling his mommy, ‘I’m just not cut out for this potty thing…’ or ‘The whole, use a spoon thing, yeah, it’s just not up my alley.’ ” It’s ridiculous! Sure, you may have a niche, something you are super good at and enjoy, but, especially as Christians we must be well equipped. Ladies, we need to know how to cook, to garden, to sew. We should be able to grow and cook food for our families, to be like a certain woman in Proverbs who clothes her family in scarlet (modern translation: stylish, modest clothes), who can sew up a nice quality girdle to sell to the local Mr. Salesbody.

For years, I’ve wanted to sing. Allow me to assure you I am a terrible singer, somebody singing three keys off? That’s ME! Now my sister, she can sing! I’ve never done anything about it, just sang quietly so no one could hear.
Enter Mother.

“You are getting voice lessons.”
“You are crazy.”
“I’m serious.”

So for the last two months I’ve been pushed and pulled and stretched… and guess what?! I can actually sing on pitch!

Why didn’t I take lessons earlier? Why didn’t I find somebody to challenge me (thanks Ms. Lewey!), hold me accountable? Because I said something like this “I just can’t sing… I wish I could…”

Come on people! You can do anything through Christ who strengthens you! We can move mountains, but we stop somewhere between boning a duck and getting our hands dirty?!

I challenge you, step up, find something hard and do it.

Need a place to start? Visit my mom’s site, Teaching Good Things, for serious how to’s and inspiration.

Get inspired, set goals with the intent of reaching them and don’t give up.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?