Celebrate Talent!

When I was a young woman, we used to have these talent or achievement evenings with the youth in our church. I HATED them with a passion! I believed I had no talent because I would sit through these nights as girl after girl showed their artwork, sang a song, played an instrument, showed their sewing or passed around a delicious homemade dessert. I didn't have anything! I began to believe I wasn't talented even though my parents assured me that I did have talents but they just weren't as evident but someday I would recognize them for what they are.

The only good thing about these talent nights was that they made me try things I might not have otherwise, however, that doesn't mean I was any good at them. I tried to play the flute, piano and guitar. My piano teacher told my parents that we were just wasting his time, their money and my efforts since I just didn't get it! I tried to cook spectacular desserts and meals. They didn't turn out so good! I am just a basic cook, no chef in the making there! I tried painting, drawing and sculpting. They looked like a kindergarten art (and I was in junior high)! Plus, it was really hard competing with my extremely artistic younger sister. I tried singing with some of my friends in a church meeting. I just ruined their otherwise beautiful piece. I barely passed the sewing portion of my home economics class with a C. I wouldn't have passed if my Mom hadn't rescued my final project--a skirt that was never to be worn! I struggled and struggled to find some talent in my body---I was athletic and did okay in sports. I was never going to be the star of any of my teams but my teammates knew they could count on me to work hard and contribute to the sport. I was an average student. I kept my grades in the A, B range and did what need to be done.

I spent my youth and young womanhood thinking I had no talent! Then, I got married and started a family. I discovered I had an affinity for certain things and began to realize that my parents were right---there are talents that cannot be seen but are just as important in contributing to society as those that are very visible.

Today, I celebrate those talents:

1) I am a listener. People talk to me (even perfect strangers) and I listen. Even when people aren't talking to me, I am listening. It used to freak my family out that my Mom could look at me and say, "Would you go get my thingy off of my thingy?" and I knew exactly what she was talking about! It really is a talent to be able to read not just what a person is saying verbally but physically as well!

2) I am an organizer. Give me a difficult task and I can break it down and get it down. My family called me the "Efficiency director" when I was growing up. Sometimes it was in a teasing manner and sometimes it was in an annoyed manner. When they were annoyed, it was because I was trying to get them organized and moving (being a nag) but it is kinda hard to take that from your baby sister!! Some people have the ideas and others like me have the talent to get it done!

3) I relate well with kids. Friends used to joke that kids like me because I am their same height!
Whether it is because I am on their level or not, I love kids of all ages and love to interact with them. They are the most amazing people! I have realized this is a talent as I have watched other adults struggle to relate to, help and befriend kids---sometimes you just don't have it!

4) This goes hand in hand with the talent above---I am a good mom. I'm not perfect, I admit I am not perfect and I admit I make mistakes. My imperfections make me a good mom because I don't expect my kids to be perfect either. They are who they are and I wouldn't have them any other way!

5)I am a hard worker. Whether it is my job, my home, my coaching, my schoolwork or my charity work I will do what needs to be done to make life easier for everyone.

So, I can't sing, I can't draw, I can't play an instrument, I can't sew and EVERYONE would rather my husband cook, but I know now that I have talent to celebrate everyday!