Normal - what is normal anyway?

So last night I was reading my 2 year old "Leo the Lop" and it almost brought me to tears. I know that is an odd book to bring a person to tears. If you have forgotten or are not familiar Leo is the only rabbit in his family with floppy ears. His siblings are always laughing at him because of his ears. One day he asks them why they are laughing. They inform him of how different he is and how funny that is because he is not "normal". He tries to fix his ears by hanging upside down. A possum asks him what he is doing and having no training in "normal" tells him he believes his ears are normal. This makes sense to Leo and he informs his siblings that it is not he who is not normal but it is them. Because as the possum said loppy ears are normal. So his siblings decide they need to fix their ears. They try to make there ears hang down and the possum asks why and tells them he thinks their ears sticking up is normal. They decide they are also normal. I guess the moral is there is not one normal and we are normal as we are. I am a normal me, you are a normal you. Nice idea huh?
It got me all choked up though because I have really come to a place of knowing despite how hard I try to not compare myself to others, I still do. I had a moment one day reading a post on a forums board that brought me to a harsh reality of how not normal our life was. It was a description of this mom's typical day and then a lot of posts about how hard that must be and other mom's typical days and challenges. It was a blessing because it really gave me a new freedom to be less hard on myself to have more grace and to quit trying to make life normal-ish. It was also devastating because I knew how much time and energy I had wasted trying to fight an unnecessary uphill battle. How much criticism I had received. I also knew that me understanding that my normal was different from other people's normal was not going to make them any more understanding of my normal. That criticism and judgement was not going to stop just because I had stumbled upon this new information. Aside from other people I also realized I had been making a lot of assumptions that resulted in me being much too hard on myself. I accept others criticisms or correction too quickly though it may be based on very little knowledge or understanding.
So I was floored one day when a sweet friend told me how she admired how much I juggled and how together I was. It is such a sweet thing to say and so encouraging compared to a lot of the feedback I get. I of course thought- no I am not, there is so much I don't do, and how on earth would anyone get that impression? Have you seen my house? Do you understand how all over the place I am?
I understand the reason I do a lot is because I don't usually have the focus and attention to do one thing extremely well. I am just as messed up and broken as any other person (just in my own special way). It may look together on the outside at times but it is there in it's own way. I am good at some things others are not, but I am equally terrible at things others do very well. It is hard to not focus on my weaknesses but I am learning that it is so much more important to figure out and work in my strengths. God didn't make us all to do everything well. God didn't make us all to fit into a certain box, but it is easy to get sucked into that mentality. And there are a lot of people ready and willing to try and put us in a box. It is easy to see "normal" and then try and measure up to it. No one but me and God know what is normal for me. And on the flip side I don't know anyone else's normal. I may have seen a glimps here or there and gotten an impression but chances are I am way off.

I have been tossing around what I am going to resolve to do this year. I was thinking of stealing someone else's idea of getting in the word daily. But I know anything with the word daily in it is setting myself up for failure. I am just not a consistent routine type of girl. I could always use more time with God. But I haven't been feeling convicted or that I am neglecting that so I think I will just keep "spend time with God" as a life long resolution and pick something else for the year. After writting this blog I have finally decided. My resolution this year will be to try and focus more on seeing other's God given gifts and strengths. See others for what is their normal and encouraging them in their strengths. So along with that try and make sure my words do not make others feel they are not "normal" or accepted (or judge them for their weaknesses) I hope I already do not do that too much but I am going to try and consciously not do it. That will have to include myself as well! I think about other peoples strengths and how great they are but I really do not tell them or encourage other people enough. It is there in my head so I really should let it out. So from now on when I take notice of something I need to get over my fear and say it. Seems easy enough :) It may be hard to do and make me feel venerable but I would love others to do it for me so obviously I should do it as well.
And everyone sings............ "what the world needs now is love, sweet love"