Finding Your Unique Talent....

My little electronic dictionary defines talent as the natural endowment of a person; a special, often creative or artistic aptitude; mental power; ability.

Have you often wondered why some people have been given "talent", and others, seemingly, none? I've discovered that ability (talent) is manifested in many ways. While I certainly admire those who display true genius, I also admire attributes that are more subtle and less celebrated. When we become familiar with family members and close friends, we see through their superficial outer-self and begin to appreciate their inherent prowess.

Let's exchange the word talent with the word gift for a few moments. We are all born with unique gifts. One person may have the gift of music or art, another the gift of words and phrases, another a special understanding and caring for animals or plants, someone else may have the gift of humor and the ability to make others laugh--bringing joy where there is sadness or worry, another may possess the gift of nurturing and empathy, yet another may have athletic ability. I could go on and list thousands of special talents, but the most important thing to remember is, we all have natural, God-given, endowments of personality. Talent is not some unattainable desire; it's the center of who we are. It's what makes us unique and it's up to each one of us to recognize, embrace, and use it for the benefit of the world around us.

Remember this Danish quote: "What you are is God's gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God."

Copyright 2008 By-Barbara J. Kirby Davis