Sunday morning as the pastor took the stage; he greeted the
congregation and asked if everyone would join him in singing, “Rudolph the Red
Nose Reindeer.” Of course everyone
laughed then promptly joined him in singing the well-known Christmas song. After the song was over, my pastor began to
go through the words of the song and remind all of us about a misfit reindeer
who was an outcast because he had been born with a ruby red nose that lit up
very bright. We all know the story ends
with Santa asking Rudolph to lead the reindeer as he guided Santa’s
sleigh. How many times have I heard
that song and forgotten it’s very simple message. As I listened to the sermon, I was reminded
of my own life and how God has turned one of my weaknesses into a strength.
I have always had a love affair with the law. I began working for attorneys when I was 18
years old and had moonlighted in firms off and on for many years since. In 2001, I interviewed for a legal secretary
position at a prestigious law firm in the Fresno Fig Garden Financial
District. At the time, I had been
working at Costco for 10 years and was looking for a second job. I desperately wanted this job and it took two
weeks to hear back from the firm. When I
did hear back the managing partner told me that he only had a full-time
position available and they wanted to hire me for the job. I was honored to have been chosen but it
would mean giving up the one job I had always kept. After much thought and consideration, I
decided to resign my position at Costco after over 10 years of employment. It was very scary to let go of such a secure
job but I was moving into the future I wanted for myself or so I thought. After less than six months, I was fired from
that job because I had made spelling errors in letters I had sent out to
clients. I used the wrong words for
words that sounded the same but had different meanings. For example, I would use there instead of their
or principle instead of principal. I
was devastated, ashamed and very embarrassed that I had made such
mistakes. I had never graduated from
high school so the simple English that I should have known was lost on me.
I have never forgot that incident and mostly because I am no
longer the girl who doesn’t know how to spell. I not only know the correct words to use in
sentences, I have become a writer and my columns have been published in
magazines, newspapers including a nationally published Sports & Fitness
Magazine. I do not say that to be brag,
I say that to show how something that was once a weakness can later be made
into a strength.
I have met so many adults who have such low self-esteem
because of some perceived flaw. I have
met even more kids who say “I just don’t fit in.” The feeling of insignificance and inadequacy
is so prevalent in kids today it really breaks my heart. I know
how that feels and I also know that over time, if they keep seeking, they will find the place they fit, I did. Life can be hard and cruel and especially for
children and teenagers.
If you are reading this, I would like you to do me a simple little
favor. Please take a moment and comment
in the section below with a personal strength that use to be something you
considered a weakness. I think the
comments might help someone else realize that there are no flaws, there are
only strengths waiting to surface.
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