You have no control over what family you were born into. You can't choose whether you will have been raised by Christians or unbelievers. You don't decide whether your parents or grandparents have loved and encouraged you as they should have. It isn't for you to decide whether you would be born with a healthy beating heart, with a capable mind, or with a full set of limbs, capable of running, jumping, or climbing as you saw fit. It isn't up to you whether your boss will speak kindly to you and appreciate your work. You don't have the ability to make someone show compassion if they choose to be selfish. You can't make a quarrelsome person be peaceful. You don't control what other people do, nor do you control what you've been given to work with.
But many things God has placed within your control. You do control whether you will live honorably, even if those around you do not. It is your decision whether you will use what talents you've been given to glorify God. You can decide that you'll grow through adversity with God's help, rather than crumble beneath it. You can be an exemplary employee, and a role model to your peers. You can see potential in other people, even if they have a hard time seeing it in themselves. You can be forgiving and merciful so that others have second chances and room to grow. You can be patient and kind, whether anyone else is or not. And in all these things, if you choose to lead, others may follow.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
