An audience of One

I am writing this on a cold winter afternoon, hiding away from the cold in my apartment. I just celebrated another birthday, so it set me thinking; birthdays can do that to you, you know?

As I sit here and take stock, it is easy to compare myself with other people, other women, to feel as if I have under-achieved, because someone, some friend I know is a brilliant consultant surgeon, performing groundbreaking surgeries, or a high powered lawyer, handling landmark cases, or better still, the gorgeous wife of a glamorous pastor, while my life just seems so mundane.

You know the deal don’t you ladies?

This comparison thing that we keep doing;

I’m the everyday dentist who didn’t really make much of a difference, or did I?

As I sit here and take stock, it is easy to compare myself with other people, other women, to feel as if I have under-achieved.

As I take stock, I see the frightened children in the dentist’s chair whose fears I allayed when no one else could quieten them.

 I see the many “wet behind the ears” dentists, (young women, yes, and a few young men!) who gain not just the clinical experience they required as I put them through their paces, but much needed life lessons.

I see the teenagers in church to whom a simple “how are you?” showed them that someone cared and the women I mentored as we laboured together in the women’s ministry.

 So what have I learnt from looking back at my life over the years?

That I am unique, that God has a niche just for me, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made Psalms 139:14.

So, women don’t be too hard on yourselves, because we have all been called to blossom where we’re planted; we don’t need to compare ourselves with the next person, just be the best version of you that can be found anywhere on this planet.

Remember, the world is a stage and you have an audience of One, God Almighty.

See you next Wednesday

Abimbola