This week, I wanted to share some delightful stories and some spiritual truths my girls have taught me. While parenting is not an easy endeavor, with God all things are possible, including keeping your wits about you when you are blessed with some smart children! I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I have enjoyed telling them!
“We have different gifts according to the grace given us.” Romans 12:6a
Use Your Gifts
One summer I really got myself into what I’ll term a “gifts kick.” I would watch my girls and compliment them on gifts I saw in each one. Our middle daughter, Elyse, who was then eight, is uniquely gifted with all creatures great and small. She seems to draw them to her like a magnet! I can’t count how many injured birds she has gently carried home, hoping to heal, or the number of toad habitats she has constructed, only to be crestfallen the next morning when the critter escaped!
One day I told her, “Elyse, God has really gifted you with a special love and compassion for His creatures.”
She looked me in the eye and spoke a spiritual half-truth: “And God is sad because you won’t let me get a dog and use that gift!”
After I convinced myself, yes, it is important to continue complimenting my children, I pondered what might be God’s mindset on the topic of gifts.
God has uniquely gifted each one of us. He wants us to use those gifts to glorify Him.
Is God sad when we don’t use or even misuse our gifts? I imagine so. I would be sad to see any gift I gave to someone ignored or used for wrong purposes.
We should work to identify and use each of our gifts. We should encourage others in using their gifts. We should not envy others’ gifts, as God handpicked what each of us would receive! Watching others use their gifts to glorify God should bring us joy! (But of course, a thing termed timing exists. And, by the way, we still don’t own a dog!)
Reflections:
1) What gifts do I possess?
2) How can I use them for God’s glory?
3) Some gifts require skill building. What steps am I taking to grow my skills?
4) Identify a gift of someone else today. Encourage him today in using that gift!
Thanks for reading! Please return tomorrow for the next post.
No dogs Sis! Unless you are ready to have another baby……………………Elyse can get her Vet degree and bless all those little creatures with her talents. But don’t fall for that one unless you are ready to raise another member of the family. Been there, doing that, and yes the “shine” has worn off with all critters we still have. Good post. :o)
Dear Dawn, How hard you made me laugh. I soooooo agree with you! However, every other family member is working hard on me. I have refused for 6 years, hope I can continue. Because I know, I will be the caretaker. And I love my family, but don’t feel I need any more on my list! (And I’m not completely heartless; we have a guinea pig and two birds in the house!) Thank you, once again for your encouragement! Stefanie
> Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 16:57:25 +0000 > To: Stefanie_L_Brown@hotmail.com >