More…There’s Potential in Everyone
“If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is – infinite.”
-William Blake
Did you know you are more than you realize? Inside of you are untapped veins of surprising potential.
It’s true.
Not only that, but your friends, husband, boss, children, they are more as well. They have unexplored talent, hidden even from themselves. It’s not the fact they have potential that surprises us, but it’s the unexpected ways it comes out.
And then there’s God’s limitlessness. Talk about “more.” We think at times we have the Lord figured out so we can fully explain him to others, when kaboom! He explodes our theories. God is not bound by time or even our theology. He can’t be conveniently contained or even tidied up to fit our beliefs. He is so much more.
This is great news.
For one thing when we understand our potential to be more than we know, it allows us to break free from other people’s opinions. In fact, my sister-in-law Candy, when she was a child, would cry if you said the word “opinion.” We think it was the word “pin” that made it sound threatening to her. And actually it can be painful to have people’s narrow judgments pin us down. Especially if we buy into their assessment and allow it to restrict our development.
I watched a child grow up who was continually told she was clumsy and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. To this day she trips over gnats and is bound by the duck tape of people’s criticism. But in the same way I’ve also seen youngsters grow into more than I thought possible, because they had people around them with open-handed grace. Somehow grace adds space for people’s uncharted hearts to be safely explored.
I have to remind myself that people can only restrict us with our permission. As children we are vulnerable, but once we grow into our adult years we are instructed to “put away childish things.” It seems to me that one of those childish things is the judgments of others that comes forth from their brokenness and ignorance. Unfortunately I have been on both sides of that human ailment. I have been the one being critical and the one who had it heaped on them. Giving up my childish right to hold a grudge toward the “heap- ers” in my life, has accelerated my healing and deepened my realization and compassion for my own inconsistencies.
I have gained grace from your Patsy Box, your Facebook group as well as your blogs. Thank you
Wow! Patsy did I need that today. I’m finding that as an adult in my community it’s harder than I’ve ever had in my life to adjust to “mean girls” around me. I play on a Tennis league and so much gossip and competition. I love playing but the feeling of not being good enough by your partner is really hard. Kinda like get the speck out of your own eye first..lol
This was eye opening to me!!!
I now realize at age 60 that things said to me in my childhood dont define me
The one thing I always got teased about was how much of a gabber I’ve been my whole life. I must say it has served me well as I did a lot of public speaking my whole life. I love to gather people through creative events, and finally I love to write poetry. So some of the things I was criticized for turned out for my growth
Patsy, this is RIGHT ON and something that God has been doing in me! So exciting that He is affirming it once again through you!💖
Thank you so much for opening my eyes about myself! I’ve never thought about myself this way. Very encouraging! 😘😘😘
Thanks Patsy, I love receiving these emails from you because they help me start my days and also helps me realize who I am and who God is.
Thanks Patsy. Still a work in progress.
Thank you. I was asked ‘if you had 10 times more self confidence how would your life be different ?’
Confidence comes from action.. doing…
The Lord cannot bless a Park car. Take ahold of the Lords hand and He will walk with you to what you thought was not possible.
Dear Patsy, you touched my life and helped me grow in God during the Women of Faith conferences I attended over the years and now the words I read this morning touched my heart again. So appreciate you as do thousands of other women (and men whose wives you helped).
I love this -” It seems to me that one of those childish things is the judgments of others that comes forth from their brokenness …” I never thought of it that way – that tells me that I have to learn to live above comments and criticisms. And continually seek identity through Christ’s lens and not mine or others. Thank you so much for these good words 🙂
Thank you Patsy. I appreciate your wisdom and am deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow as I reflect on your words and study God’s word. Thank you for reaching out to us as we all struggle with the journey of life, helping us to rejoice and see things more clearly.
Great encouragement Patsy!
Such wisdom and truth Patsy! Thank you. I believe grace, both given and received are critical to an individual’s growth in life’s journey.
patsy , I have a cousin who is a survivor of the Jim Jones tragedy! She certainly has a story to tell and has been attempting to write a book for years! I was wondering if I could pay for her to have some time with you!
Thank you so much for this! I just started a new job that is very much outside of my comfort zone. This reminded me that with God’s help I can and will be a success.
Thank you Patsy. Sometimes the environment you grow in is the place where you are the most limited. I joined the U. S. Navy at 18 years old and God was with me every step of the way. He introduced me to encouragers, sisters and brothers from all over the United States who I never would have met. I am a different person because of the people and places that surrounded me in my late teen and early twenties. I learned that God is where you are… Psalm 139 is my favorite Psalm.
Just received my box and I love it everything in it is special. It was a gift my daughter gave it to me as a xmas present. We will have a year of opening a surprise present you are an awesome lady. I miss you original ladies of women of Faith my daughter went to all of them.
Thank you. It’s all good….every word.
Miss Clairmont. You have no idea how your inspiration, wit and wisdom has inspired and kept me going especially these last few months. I was told I have Diastolic Heart Failure and only a few years to live. Today, one of three tests said my heart was strong and working well. The results from the definitive test will not be in until next week. But for now….YIPEEE!!!! I have work to do…tell the world (as many as I can reach) about my life as a Voo Doo plant. I am so excited. And thank you so much for being my advocate, even if you didn’t know you are). And because of you I have stepped outside by comfort box to reach out. Now when someone asks me to pray for them, instead of including them in my evening prayers, I stop right there, go to the side with them and pray, right then and there. I amazed at the power of prayer in the moment. But i shouldn’t be, it’s God’s working through me and I am so grateful and happy. You have inspired me to to do this. I hope to start speaking at places around town and share how wonderful God is, God who always answers prayer…Yes, No, Not now, Yes but let’s change it a bit, and ARE YOU CRAZY? Anyway, blessings and thank you for continuing doing God’s work and helping so many be brave enough to do the same.
In Christ’s Love
Marcia Worth