Gifted? Me? Not Really ...

Tami Kiser encourages women to embrace their gifts, even the ones that don’t seem 'great,' in order to fulfill God’s mission that he has for them.

In my little finiteness as a mother, I have given my children some beautiful gifts (also some bad ones, but I’m not going to write about those today!). Here are some examples of the gifts I have given to my kids. I have given all my children an appreciation for books. This is apparent as all my children, especially the ones who are adults now, are readers of serious novels and books. For example, my one son who is 25 just finished reading East of Eden. That’s one gift I gave them.

They also are extraordinarily kind to people with special needs or problems. For example, another son is a therapist–specifically at a Medicare-accepting clinic where the people generally are very poor. Finally, one unique gift that maybe only Kiser children inhabit is a fascination with nature. My children all rescue turtles off of roads and grow gorgeous gardens. Every one of them.   

Now just imagine if I were infinitely greater and smarter and could see into the future. Wouldn’t I specifically infuse particular gifts into each child — unique to their circumstances and personality. Wouldn’t I, in this pretend long-range mind, imperfect mother as I am, match gifts and give them to each of my children to suit them and serve them better?  

Of course. Each one of us would. 

The gifts our Heavenly Father gives us

So now think about your heavenly Father. The one who is powerful and almighty. He created you with a purpose, and He created you in great wisdom and love.  

So of course, God your father has given you unique gifts — that are particular just to you. You, my friend, are truly gifted! 

We discount our gifts because they are so natural and such a part of us. “This isn’t special.”  

People think a gift is looking like Taylor Swift ... or singing like Taylor Swift. Or being able to paint or draw.   

Most human gifts are not like that. They are subtle and quiet. It’s one’s nurturing ability, their problem solving, their listening, their faith, their communicating ability. Or a unique combination of gifts specific just to them.  

And we discount them.  

Your gifts are God's fingerprint  

However, your gifts, that are a part of you, are God’s fingerprint on you. It’s unique.    

Look at your fingerprints. Supposedly, these are like no others. However, they are your unique fingerprints. God made these special just for you! These are not just some random fingerprints, like a computer that comes up with those QR codes. No, God is not a random generator. Nothing God does is random. Remember, He knows the numbers of hairs on our heads. He is not a random God.   

And our gifts are not random. They are just as unique.  

Most gifts that we have seem small, even insignificant — but they are not! Remember your incredibly wise loving father gave them to you! They are important for the salvation of the world.  

It may seem small to you and even to the world, but you have no idea of its eternal significance.   

We can’t begin to understand this. God’s thoughts are not ours. But maybe to begin to understand how something “seemingly” small can cause something huge. Think of the butterfly effect. This is what we call it when something very small has a giant effect.   

Small events, small changes, and in the case of the butterfly, the small flapping of its wings could lead to a hurricane. You probably have some examples of this in your own life: since you happened to miss your dentist appointment, you were home when you got the phone call about your son being in a wreck.  

Your gifts are crucial in God's eyes 

Apply this to your gifts. Even if you think your gift is insignificant, small, unimportant, in God’s eyes, it’s crucial, perhaps a cornerstone to another event. It’s the small polite act of someone with the gift of tenderness picking up another person’s dropped groceries and speaking the right words that stopped someone’s escalating anger that was going to be taken out on a man’s wife causing her to leave.   

You tell me: Is that a powerful gift?   

I like what Pope Francis says in his most recent encyclical on the Sacred Heart:

If Jesus calls you and summons you for a mission, he first looks at you, plumbs the depths of your heart and, knowing everything about you, fixes his gaze upon you. (Dilexit Nos 39) 

You will not be alone in using your gifts and pursuing your mission. Jesus' gaze will be upon you. And we must always keep our gaze on Jesus. Holding his hand as we try to use our gifts and follow our mission. 

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Copyright 2024 Tami Kiser
Images: Canva