Limitations

Limitation: A limiting condition; restrictive weakness; lack of capacity; inability or handicap. For the most part, we humans would prefer to ignore and hide our limitations. We want to appear strong, confidant, willing and able to do anything.

I don’t like feeling limited. I don’t like asking for help. Whether it’s asking for a wheel chair to get to the other side of a church campus or asking someone to fix me a plate at the potluck line, I really don’t like being limited. It stinks. Yet, God is teaching me to be patient with myself as I accept my limitations. I’m able to say what I can currently do and what I can’t do, with the eye of being willing to learn what I can. 

We all have limitations in our lives. Physical limitations. Time limitations. Financial limitations. Relational limitations. Fixing-stuff limitations.The list goes on. Whether it’s a temporary physical limitation or just something that is out of our “comfort zone”, we struggle to know how to deal in a healthy way with our limitations.

What are your limitations? Identify them and recognize them as such. It’s OK. Acknowledge that these limitations can be painful and hard to accept. Be determined to grow in some of your limitations. Ask God for strength when you feel limited and ineffective. Find others who have the skills you lack. It’s OK to ask for help. We sometimes think we can and should do it all. That’s not how God wired us. He wired us to work and serve together! It’s time to admit that we need help. 

The Bible is filled with examples of people that had limitations, yet God used them greatly. Jeremiah felt like he was just a child. Paul had a thorn in the flesh and admitted he was weak. Gideon felt limited by having only 300 men. Moses complained about not being able to speak well. What about you? Even in your limitations, God can be your strength. You only need ask.

“By acknowledging our boundaries and limitations, we attain greater heights than we ever will by appearing to think we know everything.” Graham Speechley

“I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work and my God.” Helen Keller

“…For Christ’s sake, we should delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Attitude Adjustments

I actually had great expectations for my Cowboys this year. I was cautiously optimistic that this would finally be the year of the Cowboy. Don’t laugh. I really did. But, just like that, my hopes were dashed during the August 25th pre-season game. Tony Romo went down. He immediately grabbed his lower back and appeared to be in great agony. All I could do was yell at my TV screen with a loud “OH, NO!!!!”  I bet there were even worse words yelled that night from Cowboy fans.

I really loved Tony’s attitude after the injury. He said “In a weird way, I feel good about the fact that- that was probably as tough a hit I took on the back in the last five years. From that regard, I feel very lucky that it can hold up and you can keep going.” Well obviously, the injury was worse than even Romo’s positive attitude indicated. But, I refuse to be discouraged and still excited for another year of Cowboy football!

One of the ongoing issues with a broken foot is maintaining a good attitude. Every day, I deal with circumstances that can steal my joy. Take the smile flat off my face. Leave me grumpy. Irritated. Not fun to be with. Life on crutches isn’t easy. Getting through a heavy door. Getting into a car. Shopping. Waiting in line. Cooking. Driving. Constant discomfort. Pain. Not sleeping. These things have the power to crush my spirit.....if I let it.

I often need an attitude adjustment. I have learned through my experience that there are certain things I can’t control. I can’t control my injury. It is what it is. I can’t control the time it takes to heal. It is what it is. But, there are things I can control and one of those is my ATTITUDE. I can laugh a lot. I can greet people with a smile. I can reach out to others that are hurting. I can pray diligently for others. I can look for ways to bless my husband. I can practice gratitude in the little things. I can be thankful. i can forgive quickly. I can love deeply.

How about you? Every day, there are reasons for our attitude to take a nose-dive. God can help us. He is the creator of a right attitude. He wants His attitude to be our attitude! God will help us with our self-pity, our anger, our harsh words, our negativity and short temper. He can!!! You only need ask Him. Have a GREAT attitude this week!

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- thing about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Help!

It was a full-fledged gully-washer. While at a physical therapy appointment, I peered outside watching the rain come down in Texas size buckets. How would I get home? How could I maneuver the crutches through the flowing water in the parking lot?  Normally, I’d just run outside, jump through the puddles, not caring if I got wet. Not anymore. Broken ankles change things.

I need help, but don’t know what to do!!!!  

As I took a chair in the waiting room to wait out the storm, an older man with a cane in hand, stood up and asked if he could get the door. After he opened the door, he quickly said, “Where’s your car?” He asked for my keys and off he went to help me. My car was delivered right to me under a rain-free cover. True Texan kindness.

I didn’t ask for help. The older man, however, saw the situation, and reached out to meet my need. I was blown away by his kindness. I won’t forget being caught in that rainstorm anytime soon. God answered a prayer I hadn’t even prayed yet!

I need help. I hate to admit I need help! Don’t you? So often, we try to do life on our own, not wanting to be a bother to others. Yet, we need help. Help with wayward children. Help with a difficult relationship. Help with a boyfriend. Help through a divorce. Help with a project. Help with handling older parents. Help with a decision. Help with choosing a new career. Help with finances. Just when we think our challenging circumstances are gone, they pop up back up out of nowhere.

I can give help. I’m so grateful for the older man who saw my need and met it. In our busy lives, we often don’t even see the needs of others right beside us! Our relationships can be based on a periodic text, a “like” on facebook, but so little true relating.  Caring involves getting out of our comfort zone. Caring involves being willing to hear someone’s pain. Caring involves caring and that’s not always easy.

Reality check today! Are you willing to share your need for help? Can you humble yourself and admit you might benefit from a counselor, advisor or coach? Can you ask God for eyes to see those around you that might have a need?

I need help. You need help. I can help others. You can help others.  Just think how much we could change our world, if we really lived this way.

“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.