Our most recent article was on recognizing your talents and finding ways to serve others by using them. As I got started in the article, I realized that I have seen so many examples of people using their talents to bless other's lives. I wanted to give more specific accounts of how people serve using their talents. I hope that some of these examples will encourage and inspire you to get up and serve.
There is an older lady in my neighborhood who suffers from depression and some days it’s hard for her to even get out of bed. She has started hosting a get together with other women in the neighborhood to come to her home twice a month to work on projects such as scrapbooking, knitting, or whatever craft they want. She has food and sometimes gifts for these ladies.
A lady and her daughter worked opposite shifts at work, and it was becoming a huge stress to figure out how to get together to help the daughter get ready for a two year service mission she was about to go on. Also, this lady hated shopping, so a friend who loves shopping stepped in and became the deliverer.
When I was a child, we lost my little 18-month-old brother to meningitis a week before Christmas. It was a hard time for our family, but I remember there was a lady in our neighborhood who was a great painter and came and painted our window with a beautiful Christmas scene. It was such an amazing gift of love and kindness; we kept it up until early summer. We didn’t want to wash it off, because of the love, peace and hope it brought our family.
One of my friends is a good cook and loves to visit people. If she hears of someone having a bad day, she will make them a good lunch and stop by their house and eat lunch with them. She loves to cook so this is enjoyable to her. I have heard of several people who have benefited from a good lunch. They truly appreciated the efforts.
Another time, when I couldn’t walk very well after a medical procedure, a friend stopped by with lunch from Wendy’s. I always appreciate a Wendy’s frosty, but it was really about the time we spent. She took my mind off the pain for those few minutes together.
I got to be involved in a Christmas shopping trip with a young girl whose only family was her mom. She had never been able to go alone and surprise her mom with a gift. She was so excited.
Another time I took a friend from my daughter’s school shopping with us. The mom was so excited because she said this girl hated shopping. We had a great time; I didn’t even think of this as service.
My husband has a great talent for gardening, but there are only two of us now and we can’t possibly eat everything he grows. I think his favorite part of gardening is sharing the harvest with those who need it and will use it.
Once a lady told me, I can’t sew, cook, or play the piano, but I love to clean and organize. Whenever someone is moving or just had a baby, this lady is always there helping to clean.
Find your talents, find what you enjoy, and service will become easier to do. You don’t have to do everything. God doesn’t expect us to do it all. He has many helpers all over the world. He has given us specific gifts to be used in aiding, relieving and comforting others in their times of need. Let’s serve.
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