Potential…

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

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The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own. Benjamin Disraeli

What do you see when you look at this pretty orange flower?  Or the little yellow or white flowers?  I see not only a pretty little flower, but potential!  I see a plant well on its way to producing a crop!  Whether the orange flower which is already holding a baby squash at its center…or the tiny yellow flowers well on their way to producing homegrown tomatoes. You can even see the blackberries forming while white petals are still present on the other plant.

When God looks at us, he doesn’t just see the beautiful mess that each of us are, but the potential for us to blossom into so much more. He sees the seed of holiness in us that is the Holy Spirit. He knows that as long as we are in earthly bodies in this world, we will contend with the struggle between holiness and the selfishness that is sin. He knows that Jesus is the bridge between our human failings and holy perfection and sees Jesus in us.  God doesn’t look at us with disappointment or frustration, he looks at us with love for who we are now and also sees our potential.

We, too, can give that gift of seeing potential in those around us. We can choose to focus on the inevitable failings (we all have them) or we can encourage others by recognizing their potential and supporting them to grow more and more like Jesus…wherever life takes them in relationships, career, or other life paths that they are traveling. Rather than looking at possible negatives, foster the good in others, lovingly challenging them to live up to their potential!