By Reba Phelps
Have you ever been slightly pea green with envy over someone else’s talent? We have all heard the beautiful singers bellowing a melodious tune. We have all enjoyed and marveled at the talent of Shonda Rhimes and her award-winning television shows. If you are like me, you wonder how their minds can come up with such intricate details and stories or how their voices sound so perfect. We have all seen artists’ completed work and wondered how their eyes and soul can speak through their hands to complete such breathtaking murals.
What about the carpenter with the crafty hands to build a house or remodel an existing house? What about the mechanically inclined who can fix anything with little instruction and their own bare hands? What about the person with the eye to re-decorate any room with perfect hues and objects that compliment each other.
We all witness a variety of true talent on a daily basis and you probably notice that not all talents are created equally. It is so easy to label talent as “something someone wanted to do and they went and done it.” (Intentional grammatical error to make a point) I don’t think we give enough credence to the source of our talents.
Each and every person on this planet has something within them that resembles talent or has the makings of a talent. Just as each of us has our fingerprints that identify specifically who we are, these talents also lend to our identity. Sometimes you don’t acknowledge your talent as a talent because you label it as just “something you do.”
When I was in junior high our church youth group was having talent night. I had it in my mind that I was going to wow the crowd with my musical stylings. In my mind, when I sang I sounded just like Whitney Houston. Lucky for me the preacher’s wife made a special visit to my parents to let them know that I may want to look into reading scriptures or playing a Biblical character in the play. Or, maybe even be in the set up and take down crew. I could do anything I wanted except sing.
Even though my hopes of being the next Whitney were quickly replaced with playing Queen Esther I feel like this was the beginning of a talent that would be fostered through the years.
I learned that I could tell a story and speak in front of crowds with very little preparation.
The biggest thief of our joy and peace of mind is to measure talents against the talents of others. God blesses some people with talent that has them reach masses and make millions. Not all talents are that grandiose by the world’s standards. He blesses others with talents who may only touch one person or a very few in a lifetime. These are just as important. Maybe even more important than the worldwide type talents.
This is the thing about gifts. Once we receive a gift or a talent we are expected to use them. We can’t trade gifts with our friends or simply return them because we don’t think they fit. They are not one size fits all. They will always find a way to reappear in your life. Simply because they were meant for us and no one else. If you are busy living your life and you have no idea what your gift or talent may be; chances are it is something that has peaked your interest in the past and you chalked it up to a fleeting thought. Whatever it is, try it. It could be a thought that could turn into your passion.
Gifts and talents from above are easily classified as circumstances and coincidences that may bring us success but the Bible tells us differently.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks they should do so as one who speaks the very word of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen”
1 Peter 4:10-11
