Do You Even Know Your Own Potential?

Stop for a moment and consider someone that you know of that you think is amazing. They don’t have to be amazing in any specific way, just plain amazing. They can be someone close to you or even someone that was well known for what they did. Maybe you are thinking of someone who has done incredible things in the name of science. Or someone who has invented stuff that changed the world as we know it. Maybe you are thinking of someone that showed intense bravery in the face of danger to save or improve the lives of others. Maybe you are thinking of someone that simple went above and beyond for the few people they knew and help guide them to the lives they have now.

There is a show that I absolutely love to watch. It’s called Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Some of the families that they have on that show are incredible and I don’t think there is a single episode what I walk away from without shedding some tears. One of my favorites was their 100th episode. A family was nominated that had suddenly grown because of tragedy, and they needed a lot more space to live in. Several years earlier, they were two separate families. And the mothers of these families were sisters. In light of making it easier to tell their story, I am going give the sisters’ names (because I don’t remember what theirs are). We will call one Mary and the other Amy. Both were married and had families with young children. One day, Mary’s husband was driving with their oldest daughter in the car and was in a horrible accident. The daughter was knocked unconscious but woke at the hospital with only bruises and scrapes. Her father, however, was not so lucky. She was taken in to see him because they knew he was dying and the rest of the family hadn’t arrived yet. And this brave little girl held her father’s hand as he died. Now let’s move forward in time. The family has mourned and Mary feels ready to start dating again. She eventually meets a man that she starts having a relationship with. Things are fine at first but then he becomes controlling and abusive. Mary is forced to take legal action to remove him from her life as well as her children’s. Not surprisingly, he didn’t take it so well. He came after Mary and was locked up in jail. One night, after he had been released, he broke into Mary’s home. A struggle occurred and he murdered Mary. He fled and the oldest daughter was the first to come down stairs and find her mother. The boyfriend was found, arrested, and sent to prison for a very long time. But we now have three orphaned children. This is when Amy stepped in and she and her husband took in all three kids. When the show gets there to build them a new home, we learn of how Mary’s oldest daughter has dealt with everything. And, I tell you what, she nothing short of incredible! She was 14 years old. Now let’s pause for a moment and think about what we were like at that age. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know that I was busy giggling, having crushes on boys, and trying to fit in at Junior High. Not this young lady. With the help of her Aunt Amy, they took her mother’s situation and petitioned to help change the laws for domestic violence so that the victims can be more protected. She has even toured and spoken publicly about her families situation and speaks out against domestic violence. Instead of worrying about school dances or writing notes to friends, she’s raising awareness of an issue that is important to her and set out to change the world for other people who have to face it. I only have one word for this girl...WOW! I actually envy her a little, because she became so aware of her potential at such a young age. But as I have said, G-d has His time and place for everything. He knew that she would be ready to shine and shine she did! And I have no doubt that she continues to.
While not all of us blossom as young as she did, G-d sees us for what we can be before we are even conceived. We are born, a blank canvas, with nothing but possibilities a head of us. G-d, being the ultimate artist, knows exactly what he wants to paint there. And with the help of others in our lives, we are more than capable of reaching that potential. It is sad, to see some that aren’t aware of what they can be. Some know what they want to do but never get around to it. Some are even afraid to try. Some even realize their potential but use it in a negative way. While life is definitely planned out by G-d, we also have to make the best of it. We have to find out who we are and what we can be. We each are born with gifts and talents; abilities to contribute to the world. Sometimes they are more difficult to realize, but they are always there; just as G-d is always there

At any age, we can find ourselves learning new things about ourselves; new ways to shine. Absolutely no one comes into this world incapable of being great! Fear and self doubt is crippling and certainly not of G-d. We have the ability to overcome it and show the world exactly what we are made of. Just imagine with me for a moment, if every single person on this planet, not only realized their potential but lived up to it, how different would our world be?

I would like to leave you with a couple questions to ask yourself. Have you even realized all that you can be? If you feel you have, are you living it? If you aren’t, what can you do to change that? If you are a parent, how do you guide your children to realizing what they can do and how far they can go?

G-d Bless!

K