Sunday, January 27, 2013

Finding our Special Gifts

Help Them Aim High
"God knows our gifts. My challenge to you and to me is to pray to know the gifts we have been given, to know how to develop them, and to recognize the opportunities to serve others that God provides us. But most of all, I pray that you will be inspired to help others discover their special gifts from God to serve."

I receive daily messages from lds.org that include quotes and scriptures from our latter day apostles and prophets.  Usually I glance over them quickly while I am trying to multi task but this one stuck out to me and I have been thinking about it a lot over that past couple days. 
When I was little I would try to figure out my special gifts and how to improve them and why they were given to me.       My gifts I considered to be more artistic or athletic type talents.  Now that I am a little older I can see so many much more meaningful gifts I would like to develop and that I enjoy finding in others.  I have one friend I admire for her ability to forgive, another that accepts others whole heartedly no matter what, and another that has the most incredible ability to love and serve others being completely selfless.  I greatly admire these gifts and am striving to become more like them through their examples and actions.  
I was thinking of how I can help others to discover their gifts as well as harness my own.  One example that came to mind was earlier this week I was impressed to check on a friend.  She informed me she wasn't doing well and I asked if there was anything I could do and if it would be ok if I brought her dinner.  My friend responded she was in no position to be prideful, normally she would decline but she would accept.    I can relate to wanting to decline the offer.  I know when I am sick physically or emotionally it is hard to accept help and I don't want to feel any weaker,  but I was so grateful my friend let me serve her in this way.  It gave me the opportunity to come closer to her as well as my savior.   I felt his love for her through me as I got her meal ready .  It was a really wonderful experience for me and again I am grateful she allowed me to have it.  I know next time I won't be so quick to deny the offer from someone wanting to serve knowing the greater blessing often comes to the giver, not the receiver.  I know in this way I can help others to develop their special gifts and believe mine might be just a little bit stronger now too.  



4 comments:

  1. How do you get the daily emails? That is cool! And a sweet post.

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    1. you can sign up at http://www.lds.org/daily-messages?lang=eng

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  2. I think that one of your special gifts (Janae) is being realistic and honest. Maybe that doesn't sound like a skill or talent, but I have admired it about you since we met. You're good at paying attention to what's going on around you and recognizing how much you can do, accepting what you can't, and you don't make apologies or excuses about it. I love that about you and it helps remind me to be more honest with myself.

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    1. Thanks Marie ! That is funny you say that because I think you have those similar gifts! Ha bit maybe that's why we're such good friends!

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