Playing Favorites

 

As much as we try not to we all have our favorites. We can't always explain why this person or that seems to stand above the rest or why we fight just that much harder someone when maybe we wouldn't for someone else. What is it about certain people that makes us want to see them succeed? I have had and continue to have the opportunity to work alongside amazing youth. Picking an actual favorite would be impossible, although there are some who are sure they know or others who are convinced they take the top spot.

 

I have had the unique privilege to help people see in themselves the potential to do great things. Not everyone is a straight A student and not all of them are exceptional speakers or presenters. In fact, how they have been gifted and the difference they are able to make is different for each one of them. Often it comes down to putting the right opportunity in front of the right person. Something I'm sure I don't always get right by the way.

 

There have been many people in my life who for whatever reason felt led to open door after door for me growing up and even as an adult. I've often wondered why. What did they see that made them want to step up and give me a chance. The more I work with youth I come to understand that they may not even have known why. They were the kind of people who always looked for ways to put the right person in front of the right opportunity. It is because of people like them that I desire to see each of the youth in my church and LAUNCH (a youth leadership program of Jackson County) get the opportunity to see their potential.

 

So many of you have no idea just how much you inspire those around you. You are the fiercest kind of friend. You are able to look into a situation and say that one thing that takes our mind off our pain for a moment. You are brave and you are beautiful. You use your hurt to help dozens of others experience healing. You made a change. You succeeded. You flopped and got right back up a tried again until you got it right. You learned to accept others who were different. You learned to accept yourself. You refused to be defined by just one thing. It is for one, some, or all of these reasons you touch our hearts and make us want to fight for you.

 

Don't get so caught up in comparing and looking at someone else wondering why you didn't get what they did. If you could just see what I do, you'd realize just how unstoppable you are.