“We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.”
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet (1807-1882)

Reading these words really resonated with me this morning. I am my own worst critic for the very reason that Longfellow states: I know what I am capable of. When I see the homeless man on the corner, I know what I’m capable of. When I see the woman with her hands full walking towards the door at the store, I know what I’m capable of. When that person on the road pulls in front me of as if I wasn’t even there, I know what I am capable.

Through it all is GRACE. God, too, knows what I am capable of and yet He still loves me. Not only does He love me, but he provides me even more opportunities to demonstrate the goodness that I have inside. No, the GREATNESS that I have inside. May you and I live each day in such a way that what we have already done is but the tip of the iceberg* of what we are capable of doing for the glory of His kingdom.

“Dear brothers, warn those who are lazy; comfort those who are frightened; take tender care of those who are weak; and be patient with everyone.  See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else.  Always be joyful.  Always keep on praying.  No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
–  1 Thessalonians 5:14-18, The Living Bible

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
– Ephesians 2:10

In His service,
Keith

*PS – Did you know that 70% of an iceberg is hidden under water? I had that read to me by a fourth grader this week from a book I was helping him read. The goodness that I see in others might only be 30% of what they’re capable of? WOW! WOW! WOW! If I must judge others, may it be by the 70% unseen, God-filled potential.