Those who do what they’re designed for will always enjoy their work and find purpose and meaning therein. Show me someone who loves their job to the point of eagerness to do more and I’ll show you someone who’s doing what they’re designed to do. As we will see below, this is a truth we can sink our teeth into.

For example, our family “Canine Clean-Up Crew”. Dogs like Trooper are always glad to pitch in on cleaning the pots, pans, and containers, dishes, lids, you name it– the bigger the job, the better! This also includes any food left on children’s plates (or anyone’s who didn’t like it or whose eyes are bigger than their stomachs). Then, he receives double the joy when we praise him for a job well-done.

Why? Because that’s how the Lord designed them—big appetites, rough tongues, strong, sharp, teeth, willingness to eat just about anything, and a loyal desire to please their favorite humans.

Yet, as great as dogs are at being canine clean-up crews, there are many things they’re not designed to do. For example, if dogs could talk, they’d tell you dogs don’t talk (you know what I mean)! As often as I talk to Trooper and other dogs we’ve had, you’d think he/they would’ve gotten it after a year or two. But he/they never talk back (ok, some prefer it that way, but that’s not the point here!). For almost six years now, I’ve been asking Trooper if he knows how to say all kinds of stuff, but alas, all I get is an adorable, big-eyed, expression of curiosity. As if he’s thinking, “Why would you expect me to say anything besides ‘woof’, ‘rowf”, or ‘arf’? Can’t you understand “dog”?!”

Meanwhile, my eighteen-month old grandson can say all kinds of things— all his dad has to do is ask him a question, and he answers—in our native language no less. Same with our other grandkids, and own kids.

Does anyone ask their dogs “why can’t you talk like my kids and grandkids do?” I hope not!

So why do parents, grandparents, leaders, teachers, bosses, etc. expect their kids, grandkids, students, and followers/subordinates to do something they’re not designed to do? Or, worse yet, compare them to those who are designed for that and berate them for not measuring up?

Consider the implications for families, teams, and any kind of group. If you’ve ever had trouble determining your place or role in one, it’s because you’re still not totally sure of your design. Or, perhaps you are, but that place/role is “taken”. That’s discouraging. I know, because I’ve been there. If that happens, we have different options:

1. See if there’s room for two of you to do the same kind of thing, as partners, working together for the good of the group. Each of you can contribute your own unique aspect of design, since no one is created exactly like someone else. For example, worship teams can have more than one guitar player;
2. Branch out into an adjacent, similar, role that expands on your design and gives you a valued and valuable place in the group. For example, if the worship team already does have enough guitar players, learn and play the mandolin. I’ve actually done this, and it’s worked well and appreciated.
3. Only if neither of the above options work– Find another group or team. Although we can’t do this with families, we can tell our families our predicament and they can help us find our place.

If you are the team/group leader, ask yourself, “How can I give everyone on my team the best opportunity to do what they do best?”  In other words, assign according to design.

This worked wonderfully on our TESL team when my husband and I taught civil servants for the government in an overseas country. My husband and I, American native speakers, taught alongside four advanced-level nationals. Besides all of us, we had a female national boss, and a male advisor from the British Consul.

How could this work, with all the diversity and possible power struggle between the boss and the B.C. guy? First—the two leaders each did what they were designed, gifted, and assigned to do, staying within their “sphere” so that they complemented rather than competed with one another.

Our boss, a gifted manager, continued to manage well. The advisor trained us, advised the team, and gave helpful suggestions, which the boss received gladly. Then they collaborated to assign us roles that fit us best. While I don’t remember all, I do remember that they had me teach speaking and had T. teach grammar. T., a shy national, wanted nothing to do with speaking, but she really loved explaining the finer points of grammar. Me, the American extrovert, loved relating to class members and getting them to talk and have a good time together. As to teaching grammar, I’d just as soon endure a root canal! Thanks to wise leadership, who assigned according to design, we each gladly performed at our peak, the team benefitted, and the students learned more.

Scripture confirms serving and contributing according to our design in many places. To quote a few:

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Cor. 12:4-7

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:…” Rom. 12:4-6a

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10

Does this mean we should never serve in ways we don’t like? No—there will always be stuff that needs to get done that no one else wants to do. That’s where we, like Jesus in the Upper Room, step in and serve humbly and willingly. Even if it means washing dirty feet and appearing “lower class” in the process. (see Jn. 13:1-5) Let’s face it, if there aren’t any dogs like Trooper around, those pots, pans, and dishes will never get washed. (Although, actually, we should wash them afterwards anyway)!

People (and dogs) who get the chance to do what they do best benefit everyone around them. I’m certainly grateful I didn’t have to lick food stuck on pots and pans or left on people’s plates—my tongue isn’t rough enough, and I find it a bit disgusting—just not my design!

And I assure you, this theory is not just a bunch of “dog-wash”!