Determined to be TWEAKABLE!

Tweakable: making fine adjustments, alterations, change, modification, adaptable

I know it’s hard to believe, but I was a shy, timid introvert in my youth years. I avoided crowds, parties, and situations that created the MUST to interact with people. So, obviously, I was not voted to be “Most Popular”. And, I know it’s even harder to believe that, in some respects, I am still not, by my nature, outgoing. I literally have to force myself to walk up to people and create conversation. But, who wants to be THAT girl? I didn’t, so I became TWEAKABLE. I realized, long ago, that if I remained being an introvert, I would never have friends. “If you want friends, you must show yourself friendly.” Proverbs 18:24

In one of the devotional emails that I received from one of my favorite authors, Max Lucado, he said : “Here’s some good news. You aren’t stuck with today’s personality. You aren’t condemned to “grumpydom”. You are tweak-able! So what if you were born a bigot? You don’t have to die one. Where did we get the idea we can’t change? Where do statements come from such as “It’s just my nature to worry,” or….”I’ll always be pessimistic. I’m just that way.” Or, “I have a bad temper. I can’t help the way I react.” Who says? Would we say, “It’s just my nature to have a broken leg. I can’t do anything about it.” Of course not. If our body malfunctions, we seek help. Shouldn’t we do the same with our hearts? Can’t we seek aid for our sour attitudes? Of course we can. Jesus can change our hearts! He wants us to have a heart like His!” He wants to tweak us!

And, I add to Max’s words, if I desire to be that outgoing, optimistic, cheerful personality that others want to hang with, then, I must move out of my comfort zone, and be the gal that I want to hang with. When I’m that gal — others will be drawn to me, and I will be drawn to those who need me and I need them.

And speaking of tweak-able, I’m so tweak-able that today, after spending two days in Tulsa, visiting dear friends and family, I’m taking a quick drive over to Oklahoma City to hang out with my Austin family. My son, Ryan Wuerch, will be running his 50th marathon on Sunday at the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. This “tweakable” gal ran that OKC marathon as my first half-marathon seven years ago. I was tweakable enough to go from jaunts around the neighborhood and on my treadmill to all out gusto running my first half marathon (13.1 miles). That feat and all the other feats I’ve managed to accomplish would have never been possible if I had stayed in a mindset “I’ll never change!” Change is possible — and when we are willing to change — the doors to adventure open wide!