Embrace Your Gift

Last night in my small group we talked about how each person is given a gift to help their community. How everyone is different and that it is our uniqueness that makes us valuable to society.

Sometimes, as a society, we value certain things over others, thinking that some people’s talents are more important than others. But the president of your club, the top salesman in your office, or even your favorite author, movie star or athlete, aren’t more important than anyone else.

Some people may work in the background, while others are in the spotlight because of what they are contributing. However, none of this really matters because the whole wouldn’t function without each piece.

Here’s an example: remember those school plays when you were younger? Sure, one or two people are the “stars,” but the are other actors, there is the director, there are musicians, there are people who made the set, people who run the lighting, people who market the play and sell tickets. Without everyone, you’d just have one person on a blank stage acting in the dark.

Your family, your community, your city and the world are made up of so many different people with different gifts, capabilities, thoughts and ideas. Without all of these people contributing their own uniqueness, then each of these communities wouldn’t be able to function as they do.

So do a little self reflection today: what are you good at? What brings you joy? Do you like being in the background, doing administrative type work? Do you like teaching? Do you like being a leader? Do you like creating things? Do you like giving what you have and helping others?

Whatever it is that makes you unique and makes you happy, embrace it. We don’t all have to be the center of attention, but that doesn’t make who we are and what we contribute any less valuable.

What makes you unique?

What’s your “niche,” something you’re good at or love doing?