The Not-so-spiritual Gifts
The Not-So-Spiritual Gifts
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Romans 12:8
“People like me love people like you. I’m terrible at putting together gifts,” the conference speaker confided as she thanked me for the basket I’d put together for her.
“Oh—really? Thank you!” I said, feeling a little flustered. The speaker was well known, someone whose books I have read and whose TV show I have seen, and her words felt like a much greater gift than the one I’d given her.
I like to put together gifts and gift baskets, but I don’t exactly see it listed among the important spiritual gifts like prophecy, teaching, encouragement, or leading. It might even seem materialistic or vain, considering the shopping I have to do to accomplish it or the way I try to make the whole basket look pleasing to the eye. It doesn’t feel special or holy. So most of the time, I don’t feel special or holy either. My friend Julie can say and write beautiful prayers, and my sister Kendra is a wonderful, inspiring speaker. My dad is a born teacher, and my friend Carol is both a leader and an encourager. Compared to all of these giftings, mine feels humble, maybe even a bit useless.
Yet in rereading the passage in Romans that discusses spiritual gifts, I am struck by two things: “If it is giving, give generously” and “If you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” Giving is a gift too, and so is kindness. Rather than dismissing the gifts we have, we need to recognize them as God-given. Downplaying their importance ensures that we won’t find ways to use them to bless others.
What gifts and talents do you have? Perhaps you’ve downplayed them, thinking them not holy or spiritual enough. How can you use them to encourage others?
— Today’s Act of Kindness —
Think of a gift you have, perhaps one you’ve always thought wasn’t very special, and use it to bless others.
From the book
