I AM AN INCLUDER

Have you ever taken a personality quiz? There are all kinds of them available on the internet. I had mentioned them to my sister because I was trying to find out what my strengths and weakness were. She said that she had already taken one and had found out that she was an includer. I had never heard of an “includer” and wasn’t really for sure what they meant. When we hung up the phone I took a test and found out that I was an includer also. According to Gallup.com, here are some of these traits:

“Stretch the circle wider.” This is the philosophy around which you orient your life. You want to include people and make them feel part of the group. In direct contrast to those who are drawn only to exclusive groups, you actively avoid those groups that exclude others. You want to expand the group so that as many people as possible can benefit from its support. You hate the sight of someone on the outside looking in. You want to draw them in so that they can feel the warmth of the group. You are an instinctively accepting person. Regardless of race or sex or nationality or personality or faith, you cast few judgments. Judgments can hurt a person’s feelings. Why do that if you don’t have to? Your accepting nature does not necessarily rest on a belief that each of us is different and that one should respect these differences. Rather, it rests on your conviction that fundamentally we are all the same. We are all equally important. Thus, no one should be ignored. Each of us should be included. It is the least we all deserve.

I wasn’t sure how being an “includer” was a strength but I am really glad that it was a part of my personality. I have a phobia about walking into a room by myself and having to find a place to sit. I even hated having to go to church if I didn’t know that someone was going to be there that I could sit with. I started keeping the scorebooks at ballgames for my children because then I knew I had a place that I had to sit and I didn’t have to “intrude” on anyone in the stands. I got up the nerve once to attend a breakfast by myself at a woman’s club function that I was attending. I walked in and the place was packed so I immediately started to panic. I looked and looked and I finally spotted two spots at two separate tables. I didn’t know a soul in the place but I walked up and asked if that spot was taken. Both times I was told that they were saving the seat for a friend. I admit that I was devastated. This event has been replayed over and over in my mind and I wonder what I would have done. I would have said, “that seat is taken, but let’s find a chair to pull over and you can join us.”

1 Peter 4:10-11 says, ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord has given each one of us a talent or a gift. You might not even be aware what your gift is but it is there. If you don’t know what your talent is then maybe you can take one of the free tests offered online. After you discover your gift then you need to figure out how you can use it best to glorify the Lord. I am hoping that my “includer” attitude is best used with my Sunday posts and that I am “including” all of you in a walk with the Lord.

Shout out your talent, give God the glory!

Have a Blessed Day!