I was called into the Principal’s office, but this time it wasn’t because I was I trouble. I was in 2nd grade at Red Bug Elementary and my constant talking had gotten me into trouble before. I don’t know why it was so hard for me to obey the whole “boys and girls, please keep quiet” thing. The harder I tried to remain quiet the more it felt like a huge hot air balloon of words was filling up inside me and no matter what I was going to do, that balloon was about to lift off. I was a talking machine. I couldn’t even read a book silently. It had to be read out loud and I would create a different character’s voice for each character. And it really didn’t matter if you wanted to talk to me or not, I was still going to berate you with lots of chatter; the quieter you were, the better. I just felt that was an invitation to go on and on. I know ---annoying! I’m sure my poor teacher was at her wits end wondering what to do with this excited little talker in her class. The one day, whollah….the answer came in the form of a little Spanish transfer student. My teacher and the Principal explained to me that Sophia* had recently moved to our area and did not speak much English at all. Sophia spoke Spanish. They told me that they hoped that if Sophia and I hung out during the day, that Sophia might pick up a few English words. I don’t know what my little seven year old face looked like, but I can only imagine it was lit up with pure JOY! I was practically being given a FREE PASS to talk! AND….it was going to help someone else. Two of my favorite things….then and now. And really, I had no idea that I’d ever be speaking in front of hundreds of women. I had no idea that all that love of talking would help me when I had to lead a Women’s Retreat. I had no idea that one day I’d be going around to churches and Civic Organizations to talk to them about the need for transitional housing for women in South Georgia. Talking, talking, talking. God did though. I’m glad I never quit talking. I’m glad I wasn't silenced by all the people who glared at me when I wouldn’t shut up. Yes, I had more “run-in’s” because of my excessive talking, but I consider all that to be my training grounds! And I’m glad I didn’t quit when I saw people with way better gifts than my own. Why is it so easy to compare you gift with others and then want to crawl in a hole with yours when their gift seems so much shinier and brighter? Do women struggle more with this comparison thing than men? One minute I’m thinking, “OK God, maybe you have given me something I can do to help this world”, and then I see someone out there doing something REALLY AMAZING and I’m all like “God, you sure you need me? My little gift of talking? Really? Cause I think you could find someone a lot better at this than me.” I’m sure Jesus just wants to ring my neck sometimes! Here He is, lovingly creating each of us IN HIS IMAGE to do HIS WORK with our UNIQUE GIVEN ABILITIES and we’re wondering why we don’t have someone else’s gifting! Several years ago I was sitting at the church piano playing the morning prelude before the service began. I was in the middle of a hymn when a sweet lady came up and sat beside me on the piano bench. She and her husband were military transplants and fairly new to our church. We were in the same Sunday school class and had hung out at some of our class parties. The folks in the congregation were still walking around the sanctuary chatting with each other as we used to do in those days, so I thought she just wanted to greet me. She leaned over to be sure I heard her and then said “I need to apologize. I’ve been jealous of you.” You can imagine this took me completely by surprise. I had no idea what she was going to say next. She said, “Since we’ve been coming, I have been jealous of the fact that you get to be up front every Sunday and I just want to apologize for my bad attitude. I hope you’ll forgive me.” Of course I immediately told her all was forgiven and she put an arm around me as I played and hugged me all while I continued to play something like “He Abides” or “Sunshine, sunshine in my soul today”. All I could think of that day was I HAD NO IDEA. WHY would someone be jealous of me on the platform? And I kind of wish she’d been able to work that out herself and never revealed that to me. But as I think about it, I understand it. We kind of have a way in the church of valuing the “seen” gifts over the “unseen” gifts. The preaching, the teaching, the singing, the playing of instruments---all those things that happen “up front.” And to be truthful, not just UP front, but those IN front of people things. Heading up a program, organizing an event, running that committee---all things done in front of folks. Anything that puts the spotlight on you can sometimes cause someone behind the light to feel “less than”. Preachers will often talk about the gifts given to the church and may list some of the obvious gifts like teaching and music but have you noticed they are quick to add prayer warriors, helpers, nursery workers, etc. Maybe if we listed those first when we talked about gifts, it wouldn’t seem “less than”. Because we do know, right? We do know that there isn’t a BEST gift. There isn’t anything more important than what you’re doing right now for The Kingdom. And we should be CHEERING each other on! Do you know how to pray? Well thank you Jesus that we have folks who still know how to spend time before God! That we have people who will wrestle in prayer no matter how long it takes to break through the fog and into the clarity of praying that anointed prayer. You’re needed! Are you compassionate? Well thank you Jesus that we have people who NOTICE other people’s pain! Who not only see it, but let Jesus show them how to reach out and maybe even help relieve that pain in the only way compassion can. You’re needed! Do you like to cook? Well thank you Jesus that people still cook and take warm cookies to a hurting Pastor or to a neighbor who might need to know the taste of love. You’re needed! Do you like to help out? Well thank you Jesus that people still have the ability to look at a situation and know EXACTLY how they can step in and help and speed up a process. Or make something successful out of what was potentially a big mess. You’re needed! Are you a talker? Well thank you Jesus, cause someone somewhere needs a friend to chat with. You don’t have to want to talk up front, you can greet at a church door or chat in a home on visitation night. You’re needed! I could go on and on. The body of Christ needs you. You’re gift. You’re talent. That thing in life you like to do. There’s a place for it in service to the King. Why do you think He gave it to you? Please don’t look around at what someone else is doing. Please don’t be jealous or wish for their gift. Please know this……you’re enough. What God has given you wasn’t meant to be compared to anything else. There is no best gift. There’s only your gift and my gift. And I’ll cheer when you open yours and you can cheer when I open mine. Cause after all, if you don’t use it, it’s just the gift that wasn’t.
2 Comments
Pam
3/22/2017 06:06:42 pm
I'm thankful for you Donna and that are willing to be the up front person! Love you!
Reply
Sharon
3/25/2017 08:32:14 am
Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHi! I am Donna and I'm traveling. It's a journey to discover who I am in Christ every day....no looking back, face to the Son! Come join me! Archives
October 2017
Categories |