First Baptist Church of Herndon

Embracing Your Gifts

Linda Soller | Dec 14, 2020

It was one of the last sunny semi-warm days of late fall when I encountered a neighbor on my walk. I commented how much I liked her yard and the recent landscaping. She asked about my knitting. I explained, I didn’t have a current manageable project for walking while knitting. She said, “I never had the crafting gift.” I replied, but look at your wonderful yard, you are certainly gifted in the garden. Her expression was a bit downcast and she said, “I have friends who can do it all, sing, craft, cook, and they look great. It seems to me some people get all the gifts.” “We’re each blessed with gifts, sometimes we just need to embrace them,” I replied.  

Who are you? Are you the one everyone else thinks got all the gifts, or are you like my neighbor who thinks she was passed by?  Most are somewhere in between. Do you even recognize your gifts? Sure, some gifts we can all see, but many gifts are “not so obvious.” As we spoke, I learned my neighbor had cared for three of their four elderly parents in her home before they passed. The gifts of love and nurturing came to mind. My neighbor had started our conversation, the gift of friendliness. A beloved member of our church used to drive people around to their appointments or to the store. The gifts of caring, supporting, and helping were the gifts she shared.

Here’s a little secret. I’ll never be a triple threat on Broadway! That doesn’t keep me from loving to sing, dance and maybe even act if given the chance. The secret is in how we use our gifts. Perhaps this Christmas more than any other we’ll need to be creative. Gift giving may look different. Maybe you can lift someone’s spirits with a phone call, or a handwritten letter. Maybe you could offer to grocery shop for them, or loan them some DVDs or books for entertainment.  Maybe then you will feel the joy of your “not so obvious” gifts. God sees them clearly. Embracing your gifts, no matter what they are, is the best way to thank Him.

Joy is best found in the giving. :o) Linda