• Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

in Uncategorized

When Showing Up is Hard to Do

Most summer days, you can find me rocking away time on my front porch. I like to think of it as an investment in my sanity.

Like many southern porches, ours displays an American flag gracefully flying in the wind with the same freedom its stars and stripes represent.

High in the breeze, it’s the backdrop of my daydreams, my book binges, my evening porch-lit chats.

But, since I seem to thrive on being different, something I love even more than watching Old Glory catch in the air is watching her shadow dance on the ground.

Funny how small things come into view and leave you wondering how you ever missed them before. They’re forever on your radar, making their presence known. That’s how it is with me and these flag shadows.

Today, as I sit and watch the flag waving high atop my porch, quietly drawing attention to its purpose, it occurs to me that—just like the flag, when we rise up to our callings, humbly living our passions out loud, we create a shadow.

Each wobbly step we take in faith, doing the thing God set in our spirits to do, (even when we can’t see the fruit of it right now) creates a shadow that marks the place for others. A shadow that gives sight to the unseen of ministry.

Because, if we’re “calling a thing a thing” (as Iyanla Vanzant likes to say, and I like to copy) then the truth is, there’s a lot of blind faith in ministry…a lot of “unseen.” Much of the time, we’re stepping out in trust, hoping that what we have to offer resonates with others.

But what we don’t often realize is that, as we’re stepping out, we’re creating shadows.
Reference points of hope. Marked spaces that declare:

Here.
Here, see?
In this life, you can make a difference. 

Simply showing up and planting our feet in the ground where we believe God wants us to be, inspires others to show up too.

And, friends, it’s okay if we sometimes wonder whether what we’re doing even matters. Or if we aren’t sure we believe in ourselves as much as the God who called us does.

Because, here’s the thing: people are good at seeing others’ strengths and measuring them against their own weaknesses. They don’t need to see our shiny. They’re not served by our waiting until we have it all figured out to show up. They need to see our humility as we tentatively take steps, creating shadows that look like hope.

Back in the day, Paul spoke a good word to Timothy, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received…throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.” (I Tim 4:14-15 NLT) Not your finished product, but your progress.

Here on the East Coast, it’s been extra stormy lately, so we’ve temporarily taken our flag down a few times, lest a wind-blown flagpole impale itself through a window. (Seems like the right thing to do and all.)

But those times when the flag isn’t out—guess what else is missing? Its shadow.

I’ve come to realize that a vital part of ministry is making a way for others to come up. For others to out-pace us, even. Empowering those who share our path feels somehow sacred to me.

Because, this path we’re on, it leads to the same place—clear to the heart of God. It’s the way of home and health and restoration and life.

So, on those days when what we have to offer feels small and we can’t fathom its impact, when we’re weary and don’t feel like showing up—take heart, it’s not our shiny that inspires, but our surrender. Tweet This

Sometimes it’s easy to forget we don’t need to be writing our eighth book, or be on the highest rung of the corporate ladder, or be the PTA Super-Mom in order to inspire and invest in others.

Right where we are, at this exact moment in time, is where our difference is made.

Because a difference-making life isn’t created from the abundance of success, but from small moments of influence marked along the way.

 

This article appeared first at (in)courage.

 

 

6 Comments

Thanks for the Company!

Subscribe to receive updates and 15 lovely printables created just for YOU!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

« Every New Beginning Comes From Another Beginning’s End
God Has No Grandchildren »

Comments

  1. Paris Renae says

    July 21, 2018 at 11:27 am

    Left you a comment over at in-courage as well, but wanted to tell you great job 🙂

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      July 21, 2018 at 12:03 pm

      Thank you, friend. I appreciate your faithful encouragement. ♥

      Reply
  2. Jill says

    July 21, 2018 at 2:24 pm

    So, so good and needed encouragement for me and many others I’m sure. Thanks for always making progress and shadows for all of us to see my friend.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      July 21, 2018 at 3:30 pm

      Oh, Jill. Thank you for always being ready with a kind, encouraging word, friend. Hope you’re having a wonderful summer. xoxo ♥

      Reply
  3. Liz says

    August 5, 2018 at 7:34 am

    I so enjoyed this piece, friend! Beautiful words! Commented over on (in)courage, too, but I wanted to swing by here and connect with you… You won the FaithBomb this month!!! Which is why I checked in here and got just the message I needed…God is SO cool like that! xoxo

    Reply
  4. Calvonia says

    October 11, 2018 at 2:35 pm

    As we approach my husband’s 36th anniversary of serving as pastor of the same church, I wonder if the effort will reap a harvest. Sometimes God doesn’t let us see. We have to wait. I appreciate this post today. It encourages me. Bless you my sister.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Thanks for the company!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Tags

(In)Courage But God Callings Children Control Faithfulness Family Fear Fill in the Blank Freedom Friendship Giveaway God Graceful Guest Posts Home Hope If My People Inclusion Marriage Motherhood Nature P31 Pain Prayer Proverbs31Ministries Purpose Quotes Racism Rejection Rest Seasons Sisterhood Surrender Teens
  • Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

From the Author

I am a member of COMPEL Training Encouragement for Today Badge She Speaks

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Thanks for the company!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

Too many years I spent not understanding my worth Too many years I spent not understanding my worth in God’s plan, not grasping how my unique ways are the very Spirit of God in me.
.
Friend, I hope you know that the unique, intrinsic ways you think and see and live—God placed them inside the blueprint that is you—for purpose.
.
Trust the Still, Small Voice beating in sync with your heart, whispering, “You were made for this.”
.
You won’t be perfect at it. You’ll learn as you go, for the whole of your life. You’ll not “arrive.” There’ll always be more love to give, more hope to nurture, more seeds to sow, more service to sacrifice.
.
And it will be a life well spent.
.
So spend it. Walk in your inherent, you-shaped calling. Trust the nudge in your belly, the desire that feels too big, the Voice guiding your heart & holding your hand.
.
You were made to sing this song of praise with your life, my friend. 💗
.
.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp & then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.” (Matt. 5:14-16)
.
.
.
#value #worth #enough #leadership #suchatimeasthis #forsuchatimeasthis #grow #create #praise #ifnotnowwhen #onedayatatime #showup #riseup #youvegotthis #purpose #todaystheday #makeadifference #bethelight #amwriting #writersofinstagram #writerslife #beyou #bible #youdoyou #influence #ministry #cityonahill #madeforthis #bettertogether
Dear Summer, please tip-toe. . Happy Summer, frien Dear Summer, please tip-toe.
.
Happy Summer, friend. May you unhurry your spirit & welcome the lovely of golden days & firefly nights.
.
.
#summer #summertime #sunshine #flipflops #memories #family #friends #fireflies #frontporch #longdays #coolnights #laughter #fun #seasons #amwriting #ministry #influence #writerslife #writer #grateful #showup #shine #blooms #bloom #grow #god #faithfulgod #purpose
A few projects I worked on this winter. (With a fe A few projects I worked on this winter. (With a few Easter shenanigans for good measure. 😊)
.
What projects are you working on these days?
.
.
.
#crochet #homemade #yarn #blankets #rest #craft #crafting #relax #unwind #handmade #maker #easter #bunnies #learnnewthings #shine #beyou #createdtocreate #amcrafting #amcrocheting #amwriting #amliving #creator #create
Friend, are you like me & feeling a little disconn Friend, are you like me & feeling a little disconnected after these last two years of social distancing. If so, I understand. 💗
.
In today’s devotion over at Proverbs 31 Ministries, I share of a time when I felt unknown by the community around me, as well as a current feeling of disconnection the last couple of socially-distanced years have brought.
.
So thankful we have a God who knows us through-and-through, and who walks with us in every season of our lives. 🙌
.
As we all begin to take awkward steps toward re-establishing in-person connections this year, May we never forget how very *known,* and *loved* by God we are.
.
Oh, that we would find our greatest comfort & community in Him. 💗
.
Head over to proverbs31.org to read the & join in on the conversation today. ✨
.
.
.
#community #seen #known #loved #heknowsmyname #disconnected #lonely #newbie #seasons #bible #jesus #risensavior #savior #faithful #butgod #friendship #god #ministry #influence #leadership #hope #inclusion #proverbs31ministries #rejection #amwriting #freedom #confidence #comfort
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Market theme by Restored 316

Copyright 2020 Brenda Bradford Ottinger · Log in