Both of them hath he instructed with wisdom, to do carpenters' work and tapestry, and embroidery in blue and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen, and to weave all things, and to invent all new things. – Exodus 35:35
I love this list of skills that Lord has given. It’s so specific. If we make a list of our talents and skills, they are all gifts from the Lord. He plants the seeds in us and allows others (parents, teachers, friends, etc.) to help cultivate them so that we can then use them to better the world.
This also means that we are each given our own set of talents. For this reason, we have no cause to be envious of our neighbor’s gifts. Whether large or seemingly small, we each have something to contribute. St. Paul teaches, “God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” (1 Cor 12:18-20) St. Therese of Lisieux also wrote, “The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.”
We all have a part to play. We all have a beauty to contribute.
Prayer
Dear God, Thank you for my gifts and talents, both large and small. Help me to always be grateful for the gifts you have given me and to resist the urge to envy the gifts of others.
Action
Make a list of all the gifts God has given you – both the obvious and the not so obvious. Do you need help compiling your list? Ask friends or family members for what they see as your strengths. Often others see us better than we see ourselves.
This is an excerpt from The Work of Our Hands. (Amazon affiliate link)
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