That Awkward Stage

I hated PE every single year of school because I was not talented in athletics. I wasn't good at any sport. I always finished near last when we ran the mile. The awkward stage that most junior high kids go through, and that many of my kids are stuck in now, felt like an eternity for me. So today I could relate to one girl who took three times as long as the rest of the kids to climb the Spider. Granted, she did it in a minute and 28 seconds, which is faster than I can do. But as the rest of the kids climbed to the top to hang out, she stayed down on the third level. I climbed up to sit with her. She immediately said how she felt terrible about being last and how she isn't good at anything. That sure sounded familiar. I told her my story, and said everyone has something that they are incredible at and some things that we just aren't as good at. We need to embrace our talents and laugh off our weaknesses. Those aren't important. She's in an awkward stage, and I hope she will embrace who she is and not who she wishes she could be. Pray for Mikayla.