March Mind Candy
March Look-Back
Lesson #3
Recognize your GIFT. Work your talent.
Students are introduced to various fields of study, creating the opportunity to identify interests and where they excel. One may also look into a particular area to explore personal and financial gain. Perfecting your craft can bring high rewards when you are the best within your field. What is that for you?
Not competing with anyone other than yourself within your skillset - I challenge you to discern what you do the best with minimal effort.
When are you the most helpful toward others?
Where are you most efficient, leading others along the way?
Let’s call this your gift.
*Meriam-Webster defines a gift as both a noun and a verb:
(noun): a notable capacity, talent, or endowment
(verb): to endow with some power, quality, or attribute
The problem with a gift might be taking it for granted. It comes so naturally, that one might disregard it. It’s like having a genius sibling; you rarely appreciate them for their intellect because you don’t know them to be anything other. Community is essential; we can become numb to our natural abilities until another affirms our contribution.
Imagine your gift to be raw. Preserving the integrity of your gift requires talent. Talent isn’t raw, it requires discipline and effort, and it extends the opportunities for your gift. Talent by itself holds the potential to outwork a gift because talent is the byproduct of effort.
*Meriam-Webster defines talent as a special, often athletic, creative, or artistic aptitude.
Whereas a gift exposes itself simply by showing up, a talent shines as the byproduct of preparation. You nurture your God-given power through excellent stewardship when combining your gift with talent. Talents require effort. Gifts are effortless. Identifying your gift and working on your talent is taking responsibility to develop its’ capacity.
Identify your gift. Work your talent.
Imagine your gift as an acorn seed. That tiny seed holds the potential of a giant oak tree. Although a limited number of seeds mature into a tree, the ones that do can live for hundreds of years and yield plentiful fruit seasons. The seed’s ability to manifest into a tree requires an environment that fosters growth.
The manifestation of your gift is the byproduct of developing your talents and skillsets. The fulfillment of your gift grows as a byproduct of your effort. We cannot force growth, but we can create mental and physical environments where growth is the byproduct of living.
Allow your talent to hone your gift.
Your talent creates an opportunity to dive deeper into your passion and cultivate your craft. Whatever you enjoy doing and love to do, when you invest deeper into your development, you hone your talent and create space for your gift to take you places you never could imagine. Your gift blesses others when you show up; get out of the way! You are the vessel to brighten the lives of others and glorify God. Surrender to the will of God and allow Him to use you and your gift.
If you are still uncertain of what your GIFT is...
Imagine a wrapped gift with your name on it. Although it is already yours, to receive the value still requires unwrapping. When we handle what we have with responsibility, we cultivate an environment for growth. God has given you a gift that makes you different than anyone else. Unrefined and all, it is baked into your essence. Your identity sets you apart. Your gift works THROUGH you FOR others. I encourage you to continue seeking biblical wisdom in demonstrating excellent stewardship of the gifts God planted inside of you.
Proverbs 18:16
A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
1 Peter 4:10
Just as each one of you has received a special gift (a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God), employ it in serving one another as (is appropriate for) good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace (faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor).
Gen 12:2
And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you (abundantly), And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing (a source of great good to others);
1 Cor 12:27
Now you (collectively) are Christ’s body, and individually (you are) members of it (each with his own special purpose and function).
Col 3:23-24
Whatever you do (whatever your task maybe), work from the soul (that is, put in your very best effort), as (something done) for the Lord and not for men, knowing (with all certainty) that it is from the Lord (not from men) that you will receive the inheritance which is your (greatest) reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you (actually) serve.
Stay tuned for April Mindcandy, I hope you have a beautiful day.
With Gratitude,
Yemoja Louise