Examine your heart and do what's right

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?

- 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

One of my grandchildren was full of excitement that they were going to take music lessons. A few months later, I witnessed their mother prodding them to practice.

Now, I know that's not entirely abnormal for children to need a push to practice or do homework. And I understand we can all have a moment when we don't feel like doing something. Yet, after hearing the conversation, and seeing the lack of enthusiasm I had previously witnessed, I was curious if there was something else behind this lack of motivation.

One day, I asked my grandchild why they wanted to take lessons to begin with. The answer surprised me when the reply was, "I don't know."

"You don't know?" I inquired. "I saw how excited you were to take them. I wondered why would you give up so soon on something you were really excited to do?"

Then they blurted out the truth. "I really wanted to take something else. But the class was full and I couldn't. The other kids were taking music lessons, so I thought I would too. But I don't like them."

"Give the lessons some more time," I said. "Then see if you feel the same way. If you still don't like them, explain it to your mother. Hopefully she will understand."

I then explained to never do something just because everyone else is doing it. I told them they are different from others, and not to be afraid to be different, but to just wait for the next opportunity to come along to do what they like.

One of the best lessons our children - and adults - can learn is to just be ourselves. We may miss out on what God has in store has for us if we're tagging along with the crowd doing things we don't even like.

We need to learn to examine our own hearts and do what's right for us, so we can use the gifts bestowed to us by God.

As I gave this piece of advice, I was hoping it would spare my grandchild from further mistakes. Yet, somehow, I tend to think there will be a few more lessons like this along the way. After all, no matter what age we are, we all make mistakes when in search of finding God's will to just be ourselves.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach, Bible teacher and nurse. Invite her to speak at your church group, business or organization or your personal coach. Annettee can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or l (847) 543-8413. Visit www.annetteebudzban.com.