MY CONFESSION

Here’s my confession. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from North Central University, and I thank God for that accomplishment. But several years ago, I discovered something about myself that Inever had a name for—Developmental Dysgraphia. In simple terms, it means I often know exactly what I want to say, but when I begin writing, my brain and my hand don’t always work together. I may mix up words, substitute one word for another, leave out small words, or have to go back repeatedly to correct what I just wrote. My thoughts often move faster than my ability to get them onto paper. This has nothing to do with intelligence. It is a neurological language-processing challenge. Writing requires the brain to manage ideas, memory, spelling, grammar, and organization all at the same time. For people with this condition, there is a brief disconnect between thinking the words and getting them onto the page. The ideas are there—the written expression simply takes a little more work. Looking back, I now understand why, in grammar school, I attended a special learning lab twice a week. At the time, I didn’t understand why I had to go, and sadly, some of my classmates made fun of me because of it. But here’s the beautiful part of the story. That extra help made me stronger. By the eighth grade, when our class was tested, I scored so well that I was moved out of my regular classroom into an advanced class with students who were academically ahead. Let’s just say… I got the last laugh. More importantly, I learned an important lesson: your struggle today does not determine your future tomorrow. Over my 64-plus years of life, I have learned to work hard, be patient with myself, and gratefully accept help from others. God has surrounded me with people who have strengthened areas where I was weak, and I have learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness—it is a sign of wisdom. I share this because I hope it encourages someone. Don’t let your handicap define you. You define it through God’s grace. God has allowed me to pastor, teach, encourage, and help tens of thousands of people across the United States and in other countries. Along the way, many of my colleagues—from every background and nationality—have affectionately called me a bridge builder. That means more to me than any title. God has given me the ability to bring people together, help them feel loved, valued, and needed, and encourage them to discover who He created them to be. My greatest strength has never been perfect writing; it has been loving people and pointing them to Christ. So let me say this to anyone who feels limited by a weakness, disability, setback, or deficiency: Don’t give up on yourself. There is greatness in you because God put it there. The world may focus on what you struggle to do, but God focuses on who He created you to become. As Psalm 139:14 reminds us: “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Remember, your weakness does not cancel your purpose. Your challenge does not erase your calling. God can use imperfect people to accomplish extraordinary things. Don’t give up. It’s not quitting time. With love, Pastor Michael Nelson