We all have things we can do well and other things that we struggle to do. I can do a few things okay. I’m better than most at some, but then there are others that I don’t do well at all.
And yet, we are just as we are supposed to be. The way God made us. Maybe we are more sin-filled than He would like (okay, we definitely are), but He knew before the beginning of time as we know it exactly who we would be and what decisions we would make. ALL of them. Nothing surprises Him.
We are each unique. Some of us are good under pressure, others not so much.
I seem to be at my calmest when under pressure. Of course, after everything is over, I fall all apart (not really, but I do have emotional let downs occasionally).
On the other hand, I can’t seem to grow green things very well. I’ve tried multiple times. Here are my latest victims:
House plants.
Basil. Outside.
Mint. Outside.
Thyme. Outside.
Various house plants: My cat is probably more to blame for their issues than I am. Thus the aluminum foil to discourage him from using the pot as a litter box.
Basil. It seems to be having the hardest time. Mostly because it’s been ultra hot lately, and I forget to water it. This pic is right after I plucked the flowers from the tops of the stalks.
Mint: It fares better than the basil, but it still looks a little worse for wear. :(
Thyme: Ditto the above.
I watered them all, and they perked up a bit, but I’m sure I will lose them soon. I don’t suppose I know how to care for them properly. *sigh*
I bought them to use for cooking, but I haven’t used either of them because they look so forlorn.
I killed an aloe plant earlier this year. Poor thing.
The only thing I seem to be able to keep alive is my philodendron.
It seems to take a beating and keeps on growing. It’s almost flourishing, though I’m not exactly sure why. I don’t do anything different with it than I do with the others.
So now you know. Haha. I don’t have a “green thumb.”
Recently in our CRRG (Christian Romance Readers Gathering) FB page, Elizabeth Maddrey asked, “What is one thing you should know how to do by now but don’t?” I couldn’t think of a thing. Maybe I should have written, “Take care of plants.” LOL
Mostly, I learn what I need to know, if I truly think I need to know it.
Some examples:
- I KNOW how to make a pie crust (mind you, they’re not so yummy, but I KNOW), but I don’t make them. I buy my crusts. I don’t have time to fiddle with a crust when I can pay a few bucks at the store and get something better than I would make.
- I KNOW how to can tomatoes, green beans, corn, etc. But I HATE it. It’s time consuming and lots of work. Therefore, I buy canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, and corn. Though, admittedly, we do freeze some of our corn. :)
- I KNOW how to change the oil in my car. I do not do it. Hubby does. Thank you, Jesus.
- I KNOW how to change my tire. I’ve only ever needed to do it once, but before I could, a nice gentleman stopped and assisted me. (My tire blew out an hour from home.)
- I KNOW how to make a schedule and stick to it, but I don’t do that as much as I should.
- I KNOW how to cook, but I dislike it. Sadly, I can’t just give up cooking.
- I KNOW how to bake my own bread. We don’t eat bread much anymore, so I don’t do that very often.
- I KNOW how to paint by watching YouTube videos. I’m not good at it though. At least not yet. I’m still working on it. :)
And then some things I don’t know:
- I don’t know how to control my facial expressions. My face pretty much says what I manage to keep my tongue from uttering. :o
- I don’t know how people can look at the world around us and not see God
. Look at the intricacy of the ice crystals on those leaves. –> Each little one is placed there by God’s design. - I don’t know how people think up the evilness that they do. I have a VIVID imagination, but I still wouldn’t think up such awful things. :(
I’m sure there are many other things I don’t know. And some I may not know that I don’t know. :D
But there are some things I’m good at, like:
- Fixing meals to feed a large family (even if I don’t like it). Most of the time, they’re even tasty.
- Writing (at least I’d like to think so), even when it’s hard.
- Raising kids (mine turned out pretty good, in my opinion).
- Keeping my house neat’ish. I don’t dust much, but if someone were to pop in unannounced, the most they would see is DUST everywhere. LOL
- Getting my laundry done and put away in one day (says the woman whose clothes are still in the dryer from yesterday, but that’s an exception, not a rule).
- Singing.
- Paying attention to detail.
- Sensing others’ moods.
- Taking decent pictures.
And I’m sure there are more, but y’all don’t care THAT much. haha
All that to say, we all have things that we’re good at. Sometimes it takes effort to ferret them out, but they are there. I think God expects us to use our “talents” for His glory. And just like my plants, we need to be fed and watered and take time to soak up the “son” in order to live healthy, productive lives.
Now it’s your turn, what are you good at doing? Be forewarned, I will probably use some of these in a future book minus your name. A writer’s gotta glean from every source possible. And you are a wonderful source. ;)
Blessings,
Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre. Even when she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, reading or writing are not far from her mind. She is president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.
Hi Ginger! Thanks for your insightful blog. So fun that authors can laugh at themselves and share both the good and not so good. I choked on my morning coffee, you are a girl after my own heart. My house is neat and picked up, but after 30 years as a pastor’s wife now as a retiree – I hate to dust. Darn that white stuff just returns. Do dust around Thanksgiving for the holidays. LOL. I also have a brown thumb. I have one house plant, which I nurture – a palm tree. Every few years I replant and divide it. Potted geraniums do well and I manage to keep them all spring, summer and fall.
Several things I am good at: I raised three independent hard working sons, each with his own talents. I love to cook. My sons and grandkids love eating my scrumptious cooking. Not bad at baking either. I was a good teacher and students still keep in touch even though I have been retired for 7 years. I enjoy encouraging folks with a smile, kind word, or for authors a review. Looking forward to response. Best wishes. Enjoy your weekend.
Hi Ginger, thanks for sharing. I hate dusting also!! I’m not good at things ladies are typically supposed to be good at- sewing, knitting, crocheting and other craft activities. I’m all fingers and thumbs and don’t have the patience (or see the need perhaps!!) to stick with it long enough to master.
I am good at encouraging my kids to get outdoors and have fun with us. I am good at teaching- I love explaining concepts to my students and discussing issues with them. I am good at seeing the positive and helping my husband remember to see the positive. I’m good at paying bills on time- that’s a blessing!
Blessings:)
Good morning, Ginger! Love your post and thank you for sharing! I do not have a green thumb at all…if you give me a plant it is because you want it to die.
I can cook….and bake…and am very organized. I hate to clean, but like you, anyone can drop by and my house is more than presentable, lol!
I do not know how to change a tire, but my insurance always has roadside assistance ☺️
Love this post, Ginger! It is so funny…as are some comments. I am not commenting….don’t want to be in a book! lol
I liked your lists of what you are good at, what you know, and what you don’t know. I am a good baker and candy maker. Christmas is my happy time, as I make goodies to give away. I love to work with children! I am a retired school librarian, and I still substitute teach as an aide in preschool classrooms. I would read to children all day, if I could. I can grow plants. My father had the touch and passed it on to me. I find satisfaction in healthy flowers and plants. I do laundry well, and get satisfaction from cleaning . I worked in a hotel laundry all through college, and I guess my enjoyment in laundry goes back to that. I have plenty of things I do okay, but those are my handful of “I do well . . . “
Ginger I can’t sing a bite. But my house looks lime a jungle. Houseplants! But outside… I spend a lot of effort and money trying to garden every year because I’m no quitter, but If my family relies on my garden to eat we would starve.
I have more animals than the average person, and people will say I’m a caretaker through and through.
I do a very many things I’m not much good at, but I enjoy anyway.
I make time and room for the things I’m passionate about and wanting to get good at: writing, cheesemaking, and a few others.
This post was fun, thank you. :)
That was supposed to say’ “I can’t sing a note” haha! I can’t post on my small phone screen apparently.
I really liked your post!! Some things I’m good at: taking care of my Mom; laundry; cooking; baking; helping my clients. I don’t have a green thumb, either, though to look at my orchid, you’d think I did!! The orchid is totally ignored, never watered, and is thriving!! It blooms continuously, just about. It’s been known to have over 5 bloom spikes at once!
I’m really good at ignoring the dust and spiderwebs and dirt around the house so that I can read more :-)
I’m good at administrative things, so I’ve ended up as the registrar for two camp/retreat events each year that my church runs. (But I’m always putting off filing, so my desk is piled high…)
I’m also good at sending birthday cards to friends.
I’m glad that you are okay after choking on your coffee. I hope it was a good reason to choke, like a laugh. :D
I love your list of things that you’re good at doing. And I, for one though I expect I speak for all of the authors here (and elsewhere), am super-duper thankful for readers like you who encourage us with reviews. A smile is nice, too.
HUGS!
OH, bills. My husband takes care of that now, after I got so busy with teaching (when I still had all seven at home) and failed to pay a bill on time and we had to pay a late fee. :(
I love your positive outlook. I wish I were less of a pessimist (or realist) and could be more optimistic.
Blessings!
Haha, Paula. Roadside assistance!
Wanna come cook and bake for me? I’ll change your tire. LOL Oh, wait. That’s probably not a good bartering item.
I call my office … organized chaos, though it is getting better. “I” know where things are, and that’s what matters. Right?
Blessings!
And the fact that you are commenting about not commenting will probably end up in a book. Mwhahaha!
That’s a good list, Marcia.
I love baking and candy-making at Christmas as well. It’s the only time I make fudge, mice (chocolate-covered (homemade) cherries and hershey kisses), and a sugar cookies (for my kids, ‘cuz I’m not a fan).
We also love making faux gingerbread houses with a premade (homemade) structure and graham crackers, plus TONS of candy. Even my adult kids come home to make them. :)
Blessings!
God LOVES your singing, Dalyn. Guaranteed.
Can you give me advice on my poor herbs? Do I need to move them? Bring them inside? Water more (probably)?
Our garden is my hubby’s. I barely even go pick the vegis. :o
I’m learning to do things I enjoy even if I’m not particularly good at them. Recovering perfectionist. It’s a hard thing to not fall back in to.
Blessings!
I understood.
Oh, I love orchids. So pretty.
You have a nice list of good things that you do. It’s amazing how God has blessed us.
Blessings!
READING!!!! YES! What a good thing to ignore the dust, etc for. :)
I’m good at administrating as well, and I don’t mind filing. I used to do it for our homeschool co-op before they went paperless. They didn’t like filing, but I didn’t mind doing it and it helped them, which was my goal.
I wish I were better at sending cards of any kind.
Blessings!
Hi Ginger,
Like you, I kill plants I love them and always have high hope for them, but they die. One plant I have been able to keep is a bamboo plant. Maybe it’s because I don’t need to water it much? Well, that’s not right, I had an air plant (the kind you don’t need to water at all) and it died. I say it’s because our house doesn’t get the right kind of sunshine! And I’m sticking to that! (Even though I’m just a plant murderer!)
As for what I do good, I could say I raised four beautiful children, but we all know it was only through the grace of God and by His hand they are all wonderful and living lives pleasing to God.
So I’ll just add the most current thing I do good. (Well, I think I do it pretty well!) I make graphics for authors to use to promote their books. I also make graphics of verses which have touched my heart. I’m thinking of making a photo book with many of these graphics as a thing to give out as gifts. Like a coffee table picture book. I don’t know yet, it’s just something I’ve been toying with. So there’s my good thing.
One thing I want to say as I’ve been writing this. I know it’s good to find something we are good at, but it can cause people to think they aren’t good at anything or start to compare their lives with others. I know you don’t want to do that. But I just felt I needed to say we should ALL remember we are God’s masterpieces and perfect in His eyes!
This wasn’t to be negative, it was just something on my brain.
Actually, Marilyn, my thought process was to REMIND us that we all have things (even if they’re little things) that we’re good at. Giving a smile, which we should all excel in, is a simple thing, but for the person on the receiving end, it could be a life saver.
I’m an average girl. I don’t do anything spectacularly. For a long time, I didn’t think I could do anything exceptionally well. And there are a few things that I do rather poorly. But those are just things I DO. They are not who I AM.
I have to remind myself regularly that I AM a daughter of the King. I have been chosen, adopted; I am wanted. :)
Ginger, I had to laugh at your plant situation. Since we moved to Arizona, I can’t keep plants alive. I can’t get the right amount of water. Either too dry or two wet. You can’t kill a philodendron. Those are the only plants that have survived since we moved here. Everything else died.
That explains why my philodendron survives my sporadic care. :)
I guess it depends where you’ve moved from. I bet the air is much drier in Arizona than anywhere I’ve ever lived (all southern states and connected to a major body of water–VA, NC, FL, and now AL). If we get less than 50% humidity, we are basking in the dry air, no matter the temperature. :D
I can cook and well, but I hate it. To me it is such a chore. I actually have trouble believing that others can enjoy it.
I only garden because I have to. Again such a task – also a dirty and sweaty one.
My house is clean and tidy, but I do not obsess.
I am organised.
I’m good at crafting, decorating, organizing, gardening, canning, cooking , baking, cleaning, caregiving, etc
I’m terrible at sports of any kind.
We sound very similar, Mary. Though on cool days, I don’t mind gardening too much.
Blessings!
What great things to be good at. I’m not so good at sports either. I tell people that I’ve never been in shape in my life, even when I was skinny. LOL
Lovely post, Ginger. :) I’m good at setting goals and learning how to do certain things well. When I first started writing fiction, I wasn’t particularly good at it. I had story ideas and characters who came alive in my mind, but it took a lot of time and hard work to learn the craft of writing. Like Wemble I’m not into handicrafts, but I’ve always been good at reading due to having lots of practice from a young age, lol. Sometimes I struggle to make decisions because I’m choosing between two things that I’m good at doing. Seeking His will is so important, especially when we have enticing distractions around us.
Fun! I’m definitely NOT good at taking care of plants or cooking. Thank God that there are others in our household who are excellent at these things.
I am decent at (and enjoy) cleaning, organizing, creating and mostly sticking to schedules, and doing laundry. I give good hugs and snuggles! Mundane things but at least I can contribute to the functioning of our home!
I am very late. I can tell you one thing I don’t know how to do and at 55 you will probably laugh. I do not know how to drive a car. I have never learnt and have no idea. I have however ridden a motorbike.
I am good at talking (although that isn’t something good I always got into trouble for talking to much). But I am a good listener and I have found at different times I have been a good listener for some people who need someone to talk to without judgement.
I am good at making ends meet. I had good examples. My parents never had a lot but we didn’t seem to go without what we needed. Yes there were things I wanted I didn’t get (like the doll my friend had that’s hair grew when you pressed a button) but I don’t think I missed out on anything. There are times its hard but I have learnt to pay of my credit card on time and to save for items I want rather than go into debt.
Ginger, Thank you for replying. I really hope I didn’t sound like I was criticizing you or the post. It is a good post and what you said was good. I just didn’t want to feel like I was boosting, and comparing myself with others.
I agree with you, we all need to remember we are daughters of the King and hold our heads high. Sometimes this is a struggle for me.
I’m sorry if what I said earlier offended you. I didn’t mean to.
I wish I were as good at KEEPING the goals as I am at making them. :o
And I agree, His will is always important, and there are a LOT of distractions.
Blessings!
All parts of the “body” are important, even those parts that perform “mundane” things. Sometimes those are the most important — like beating and breathing. They are contributions and needed actions. Somebody’s gotta do it. :D
I’m not sure how you survive without driving, but if you’ve made it this long–good on ya, mate! (said in my best Aussie accent, which is truly AWFUL, btw. Aussie with a southern US twang. LOL)
Everyone should know how to save for items instead of buying on credit. That’s a great skill to have.
I’m good at taking care of kids, baking, organizing things, and listening. I will agree with many others that dusting is not something I do nearly as often as I should.