"Build it Up"

Numbers are big, scary and have always had the power to overtake me in a way that gives me the creeps! At least that was how I felt when I was eleven years old. I was in the fifth grade, and my teacher gave out an assignment that involved writing out all the multiples of the numbers one through twenty. She gave us a sheet of graph paper and told us to bring it in the next day.


I was confused with how I would possibly be able to finish this assignment on my own. Luckily, my older brother has always been advanced in math. He offered to help me finish it. My brother did not focus on my fear of numbers, but on the fun that we would have working together on a project. He encouraged me with my persistence, and told me that I could complete it. Ephesians 4:29 explains, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. My brother could have refused to help me. Or worse, criticized me for not understanding the assignment. However, he made me feel like a hard worker for sticking with the challenge.


When he guided me through the assignment, I did not become an expert in math. In fact, I have accepted that I will probably never become one. However, I gained valuable skills while I received his teaching. I understood patience as I dealt with a very scary thing for me. “We have different gifts according to the grace given us (Romans 12:6).” So, it is normal to have difficulty in the areas that we are not gifted. As believers, we will not possess every spiritual gift (Romans 12: 6-8). Although, we are called to understand the different facets of the Spirit, in which we live. Galatians 5:22 states, “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”


With my brother's help, I listed all the multiples up to the number twenty. He told me that he believed we could go further and write out all the multiples up to the number ninety-nine, which would fill up the entire sheet of graph paper. His encouragement, along with my persistence, allowed me to go beyond the expectation of the assignment. What is your struggle? Have you accepted your need in this area? Which fruit can be fulfilled? I realize now that it is okay if I am not an expert in math, but am thankful that I gained the fruit of patience through my challenge.