“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”  I Peter 4:10
 

Most men have the ability to do basic projects around the house.  I am not one of those men.  Give me a screwdriver and I am dangerous.  A hammer and it could be lethal.
 

Several years ago when I was installing a garage door opener I proved my lack of ability in this department. The opener seemed to go in well, so I pulled my car in the garage and closed the door. No glitches until I tried to open it again. The door would not come up, my car was stuck.

Because I lived in a town home my garage had only one door.  The big one.  There were no side or back doors so in order to get my car out, I had to pull plywood off of the side to get in and set my car free.  
 

There have been times when the things that I am not good at have created insecurities and made me question if something was wrong with me. Compared to other people I am not mechanical.  Some might say that makes me weak, but I believe it simply makes me unique.  
 

We are all different, and that makes us all wonderful.  Instead of comparing ourselves with others and grieving over the gifts, abilities, and talents they have but we do not, we should recognize and embrace our own strengths.

See, even though I am not good at fixing things and I am not handy with tools, God has granted me gifts. My personality is a gift that has been given to me to help me accomplish the tasks that God has for me. There are things I am good at as well.

I could make a long list of the things that I do not do well (I see these glaring weaknesses all too easily) or the things that I am good at (I would need some outside help with this as I don’t recognize these as readily).  But, if the list creates frustration or increases my insecurity then it would not be helpful.  Instead, I would be better off to adopt a heart of gratitude that brings freedom. By thanking God for all of the things that make us different and unique, I can sincerely be happy for those that I might otherwise be jealous of.  And, by voicing my appreciation for the gifts, talents, and skills I have been given I feel better about myself and prepare myself to see the opportunities as they present themselves.  
 

Now, I am not saying that from this point on you don’t have to do anything outside of your skill set. After all there are times when a garage door needs to be put in, some weeds need to be pulled, or someone needs to be prayed for and there is no one around to do it other than a person who is uncomfortable.  Do what needs to be done, but don’t be discouraged if you don’t measure up in an area.  
 

Even though you may not possess every skill, you are an amazingly gifted person crafted by God and for Him.  Your uniqueness proclaims His greatness.  

Do you have a thought on giftings and talents that you would like to share? Do you have a question about your unique abilities you would like to see addressed in this weekly email?  If so, send your thoughts and/or questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .