I don’t know what to say…

It’s Monday morning as I’m writing this…the day that I often find myself thinking about posting something on my blog.

Sometimes that writing project is easy. A particular thought may have been swirling around in my mind for a while and finally has settled into words.

Other times it’s difficult. The thought may still be there–but the words haven’t formed yet. Then I just need to be patient.

Other times, it seems almost impossible. What on earth could I say that might be meaningful to anyone?!? What makes me think someone will read what I write?

This is one of those times. But I’m going to try.

I know that the questions that come when I’m not sure what to write come (at least partially) from my lack of self-confidence. I don’t remember being encouraged to strongly share my opinions or perspectives when I was younger. I wasn’t in an abusive situation at all; it was just that I grew up in a time when girls’ voices weren’t given as much value as those of boys. And it’s taken me a long time to believe that when someone asks me what I want to do, they really want to know.

Neither was I particularly encouraged in my desire to write. It was okay to play around with it–but writing couldn’t really provide a living for me.

Same thing with composing music. It wasn’t a “real” career choice.

I was a girl. My career choices (unspoken expectations) were nursing, teaching, or secretary. So I chose teaching.

I’m still working on finding the confidence to express my voice–and to believe that my words are important.

So as much as anything, what I want to say today is this:

Encourage your children’s dreams. They may not mean much to you…but they are important to your child. They are part of what makes them who they are. Give them an opportunity to try new things…to experiment. Who knows what they might find out about themselves? and what they might offer to the world?

Being of worth

Am I of worth? Have you ever asked that question?

What makes someone “of worth”? Money? fame? influence? beauty?

That’s how the world generally identifies worth. But is that really what makes someone of worth?

I spent a lot of years wondering about my own worth. I grew up during a time when women’s job opportunities were pretty limited–and I saw my options as basically secretary, teacher, or nurse. I had some other dreams, but they didn’t get the support that my brothers’ dreams did…and I became a teacher.

That was not the best vocation for me at that time. I was too close in age to my students…not patient enough…and too unsure of my value, my worth. I taught for about two years and then decided I needed to do something else.

As the years passed, I married, fostered some children (and adopted one of them), worked in an office, enjoyed an avocation as an organist, spent many years as an at-home mother.

Eventually I went back to teaching–and it was a better fit this time. I had become more comfortable with myself…knew myself better.

Now I’m in the senior years of my life. It’s taken me this long to realize that I am of worth just because I’m me! My thoughts…my abilities…my dreams…all these are of value because they are mine.

Am I beautiful? or rich? or famous? No, but that doesn’t matter. I’m me!

What about you?

You are valued and of worth, too. You have unique gifts…abilities…thoughts…dreams–and the world needs them. We need them.

I don’t care what color you are…or your ethnicity…your sexual orientation or gender identity…your religion…or any of the other things the world thinks are important. You are…and in my faith tradition, that means that you were created by a Divine Being who said that everything created is good and is of worth. That means you, too.

All have their worth and each contributes to the worth of the others.

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion