{"id":3315,"date":"2016-02-14T09:00:51","date_gmt":"2016-02-14T15:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3315"},"modified":"2016-02-14T18:49:57","modified_gmt":"2016-02-15T00:49:57","slug":"choose-to-be-the-best-you-can-be-do-your-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3315","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Be the Best You Can Be (Do Your Best)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another Year of Choices<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Be<\/a>Some people strive to be the best or at least \u201cbetter than everyone else.\u201d\u00a0 This philosophy coerces us into comparing ourselves with others, which is not wise.\u00a0 (2 Corinthians 10:12)\u00a0 Those better than everyone can be self-righteous.\u00a0 Those who aren\u2019t can be frustrated, envious, jealous, discontent or have a \u201cwhat\u2019s the use\u201d attitude.<\/p>\n

A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak standing near the gate what the trouble was. The oak said it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all troubled because it could not bear grapes, like the grapevine. The grapevine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and produce fruit as big as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.\u00a0 And so it was throughout the garden.\u00a0 Yet coming to a violet he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. “Well, little violet, I’m glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.”<\/p>\n

\"Violet\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one.\u00a0 Since I knew you wanted a violet I am determined to be the best little violet I can be.” (Modified from Streams in the Desert<\/u>, by L.B. Cowan)<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure we can see the parallel.\u00a0 God is our king.\u00a0 He created and planted us.\u00a0 Are we determined to be the best we can be for Him?\u00a0 Or do we lament and pout because we can\u2019t do what others can do?<\/p>\n

\"Parable<\/a><\/p>\n

We are not all created equal.\u00a0 We have different strengths, weaknesses, and abilities.\u00a0 (Romans 12:6)\u00a0 \u00a0But it\u2019s what we do with what we\u2019ve been given that counts.\u00a0 This is evident in the parable of the talents when a rich man entrusts his money to his servants.\u00a0 He gives one servant five talents, one servant two, and another only one.\u00a0 Each was expected to increase.\u00a0 The first two servants increased 100 percent.\u00a0 They were rewarded for their efforts.\u00a0 In fact, they were given the same reward.\u00a0\u00a0 The servant who received the most talents to work with wasn\u2019t rewarded more than the other.\u00a0 It was the percentage that counted \u2013 what each had done with what they had been given.\u00a0 The one who was only given one talent produced nothing.\u00a0 He was chastised and his money, what little he had, was taken away.\u00a0 (Matthew 25:14-30)<\/p>\n

Jesus tells us the widow who gave her meager offering was better than all the rich who gave theirs.\u00a0 (Mark 12:41-44)\u00a0 It\u2019s what we do with what God has given us that counts.\u00a0 It\u2019s all a part of being the best we can be; doing the best we can do with what we have.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the jobs we have are not as important as how we do them.\u00a0 All of us should do our jobs the best we can, as if we are doing them for God. (Colossians 3:23)\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t matter if we are CEOs, bag boys, plumbers, maids, doctors, ditch diggers, administrative assistants, accountants, waiters, students, cooks, bus drivers, dishwashers, day care workers, clerks, and so on \u2013 we should all do the best we can do.\u00a0 David wasn\u2019t always a king.\u00a0 At one time he was a shepherd boy who took his job seriously enough to protect the sheep. (1 Samuel 17:34-37)<\/p>\n

Helen Keller was both blind and deaf from infancy, but eventually went on to graduate from college to become a world famous writer and activist.\u00a0 She said, \u201cI am only one\u2014but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026 All of us are but one.\u00a0 We can\u2019t do everything but we can do something.\u00a0 What we can do, we should do.\u00a0 That\u2019s what being the best we can be is all about.\u00a0 And with God\u2019s grace and help we can do even more.\u00a0 As the saying goes, \u201cDo your best and God will do the rest!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Do<\/a><\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n