I read Amy Grant’s book, Mosaics. She eloquently explains how thankful she is for God, her singing talent, and all the people who made her so successful in life. Grant’s life had its ups and downs but she forcibly reminds the reader how important it is to use what God has given us to be happy and help others.

Right!

Unlike Ms. Grant, who apparently can whip out a song lyric while driving the car, I sing terrible. In fact, I don’t have one talent that comes easy. I’m not afraid to learn, but it is a torturous workout. It will take me over an hour to write this short blog and then I’ll probably edit it tomorrow because it doesn’t make a lick of sense later today.

Nothing against Amy Grant, in fact, I recommend reading her book, Mosaics. Grant’s thoughts are worth hearing. And, although I can’t relate to a person who was born talented and able to make a hefty income while being surrounded by a host of supporters (and a nanny for her children), but I can indirectly relate to the love of God and family, enough to get something meaningful out of Mosaics.

I am reminded that although everyone has obstacles in their life, some people have HUGE obstacles to overcome. I can relate to the obstacle of not being innately talented at something. As a former foster parent, I can also relate to the gargantuan obstacle of self-destructive behavior. Many of the foster children’s parents were extremely talented at self-destructive behavior. So, it isn’t as simple as telling people to be thankful to God and help others.

I can relate to the importance of removing obstacles, rather than place obstacles in the eye of the public.

“Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.” (Isa. 57:14, NIV)

With the foster children, I removed the obstacle of a terrible family, by not allowing them to speak badly about their absent parents and by showing them they can feel the Parent of God, who will always be with them to guide and heal. They responded beautifully. Children are pretty great.

Come to think of it: I revised Science and Health to remove the obstacles of gender-exclusive language, out-dated examples, and outgrown medical references. From Science and Health, “Apart from the usual opposition to everything new, the one great obstacle to receiving spirituality through which the understanding of Mind-science comes, is the inadequacy of terminology for metaphysical statements.”