Our daughter is crazy over squirrels.  She sees them as cute, furry, clever, nut eating friends.  I have a very different view.  To me they are rats with bushy tails and are not my friends.

Our daughter sees all nuts as food for squirrels and a few types of nuts as edible for humans as well.  I agree on the fact particular nuts are tasty treats but I also recognize that nuts are at one point, potential trees.  The squirrel sees them as food and security against the lack of food in winter.

Two humans and lots squirrels, all with differing and similar ideas about the potential in a simple nut.  The outcomes for all the nuts from one single tree are limited by what circumstances they are exposed to.  Is it different for humans?

Yes.  As a person with free will we have choices.  Our life exposures shape our thinking, often our physical persons and how we come to think and believe about ourselves. 

But, we can change ourselves.  Even better, we can invite Jesus to change us.  Whatever our circumstances, whoever we’ve become in and with life, Jesus can change us.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we are new creations in Christ when He is our Lord. He also tells us in Romans 2:12 that we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Our potential, unlike that of nuts, is unlimited because Christ is unlimited for good. 

I would like to live to my fullest potential in Christ.  Would you?

As a parent I want to teach my daughter to live up to her potential on Christ.  Not to be conceited, but to spread her wings and soar in the grace of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

-Faye