A place for everyone

On the first Sunday of the month in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is a special meeting called Testimony meeting. Members of the congregation are invited to share their feelings about the gospel. They share experiences and feelings that have influenced their belief in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, as well as the principles we believe and follow in the church.

This last Sunday, one sister stood and spoke about how she is very loud. She grew up always being told to be quiet. She felt like there is a "mold" for the perfect member of the church, and if only she were a "nice" girl, she might fit more into that mold. But, she concluded that she hoped there was a place for "feisty" people in the kingdom of God too.

I thought it was particularly interesting, because I had almost the opposite idea. I am very quiet. I am a "nice" girl. I have a younger sister who is loud and "feisty". My mom used to call her a barracuda.  :) I have had conversations with my mother about this sister and how strong she is. I always felt like I was not strong enough to serve the Lord because I am so "nice". In the Bible, in his letter to Timothy, Paul says, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord..."(2 Timothy 1:8). I sometimes worried that the Lord would think I was ashamed of my testimony because I shy away from conflict. I am not the warrior He needs in His kingdom.

Then, one day I was thinking about the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. If you haven't read the books, you are probably familiar at least with the films that have been made based on the story. There is a character in the books named Lucy. She is very firm in her testimony, and has a lot of faith. However, like me, she is a "nice" girl. In The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, St Nicholas comes and gives Lucy and her siblings gifts to help them in an upcoming battle. To each of the brothers, he gives a sword, and to her sister, he gives a bow and arrows. But, to Lucy, he gives a balm to heal people, not a weapon. She receives a small dagger just in case she needs it. However, St Nick recognized that her strength was not in fighting, but in healing.

In every battle ever fought, there are warriors, and there are healers. The battles we fight for the Lord are the same way. My sister is a warrior. I am a healer. There is a place for both in the Kingdom of God. In fact, there is a place for EVERYONE. I am sure there are more categories than just warriors and healers, those are just the two I have thought about recently. I do not think there is a "mold" that we ares supposed to fit into. Each of us is unique. We have different qualities and gifts that make us who we are. And the Lord needs us! All of us! Each of us are like a unique piece of a puzzle that fit together to make a beautiful picture. If we try to fit in someone else's place, the picture won't come together correctly. He needs us in our place.

Whomever you are, please try to be the best YOU, not the best someone else. We all have room to improve, but we need not try to become someone we are not. Just be our best self. The Lord made you who you are, and He has a place for you. "Seek, and ye shall find"(Matthew 7:7). I know if you ask Him, He will help you know that He desperately needs you in His kingdom, and He will help you find your place.