You are gifted

As my seven year old son Jacob was working on comprehension homework, he wrote down the sentence, ‘I waved my hand.’ The word resonated with me and I questioned whether it should be waived my hand. The homework brought up the conversation about homophones and how the English language is full of words that sound the same but have a different meaning or spelling. Though a quick google search just confused us more on which spelling was correct, it reminded me of the work I am doing for Aiming Arrows and helping parents recognize our children’s skills.

Many times in conversation, people use skills, talents, gifts and strengths interchangeably, myself included. Though these are not homophones, I believe we use them incorrectly all too often. I’m sure when you read the title of this article, you chuckled and may have even thought no, not me. I’m not gifted. Let’s dive into the difference of exactly what these terms mean and how you can find out what is your God-given gift. In doing research about the definition of these terms I discovered:

Talent – Is a natural ability to do something. You are born with your talents.

Skill – Is something that is learned and involves having to practice.

For example, I know I have an ability to have a deep conversation with people. I have no fear in speaking with others and starting a conversation. My natural ability to strike up a conversation and talk with others is my talent. However, no one wants to participate in a one-sided conversation. Though I have had this talent for years, I have had to practice the skill of understanding non-verbal communication to see when the other person would like to chime in, or if they are getting bored with me talking, or if they are giving me cues to keep talking. I have had to practice ‘active listening’ to be able to validate a friends feelings during a tough conversation. Many people have the talent of having a conversation! I’m sure you can bring to mind an individual who you hate to run into at the grocery store, because they won’t stop talking about themselves. They have a talent of conversation and they feel free to talk to others. They do not have the skill however, of nonverbal communication to realize you would like to contribute to the conversation as well.

With that definition, are there any talents or skills you have that come to mind? Maybe you have the talent of excellent hand-eye coordination, but have had to practice at a specific sport to become skilled. Maybe you are talented in the kitchen making your own recipes, but are still practicing at making home-made noodles for your grandma’s chicken noodle soup she flawlessly made each Sunday. That is a talent and skill I know I wish I had!

I hear you saying, okay that makes sense, I know what some of my talents and skills are, but I am far from gifted.

Gifted and talented are the two words that are used most interchangeably. Though they are very similar, and you are born with both, to be gifted is a Christian term. If you are born with a talent, the gift you were born with, is to be used to glorify God and was given to you by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 12:4-6 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we are one body in Christ and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.”

Using the example of my talent of communication, my gift would be the realization of how to use my talent to lead others to God. Leading others to God is ultimately our soul’s only purpose. He provides us the gift within to do just that! How quickly the conversation would change if in the grocery store that same person had the God-given gifts of exhortation and shepherding during a hard time in your life. Exhortation and shepherding are just two examples of spiritual gifts we may be given. The gift of exhortation is the divine strength or ability to strengthen, comfort or urge others to action through the written or spoken word and using Gods word to encourage others. Shepherding is to care and nurture the needs of others.

According to Kelsey Kemp and her podcast ‘Answer the Call’, a strength is the combination of your talent and skills combined with knowledge to create the ability to accomplish a specific type of task with greater measure of power. You might need to read that sentence again! I know in my heart, God gave me the gift of exhortation and I was born with the talent of communication. I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelors degree in communication. After college I also attended training in the Stephens Ministry program. With my education I was able to develop, through practice, the skills of: nonverbal communication, active listening, the ability to ask clarifying questions and the ability to recognize the difference between sympathy and empathy. All skills I praise God for daily. To break it down even more simply:

My talent: communication, the use of words whether written or spoken.

My gifts: exhortation, shepherding

My skills: nonverbal communication, active listening, empathy

My strength: Being able to see a friend in need, actively listening to what they are saying or not saying, observing their non-verbal communication, asking clarifying questions to help, care for, comfort and nurture towards our all-loving creator.

To be clear, I did not write this article to showcase my skills or talents. I only broke them down for you because God has provided me years of trials to be able to recognize and develop my talents, skills and gifts to lead me to my purpose. It’s time you recognize your abilities to start living the life of your soul’s purpose. Because according to author Viktor Frankl, ‘Those who have the why to live, can bear almost any how‘.

Kelsey Kemp developed then, questions you can ask yourself to distinguish the difference between your skills, talents, strengths and gifts.

1. Skills – Ask yourself, what through practice have I become good at?
2. Talents – What am I quick to learn or naturally good at?
3. Strengths – What natural abilities have I developed into ‘zones of excellence’.
4. Gifts – What do I naturally desire to do to help, serve and build others up? How do I naturally and effectively minister to others?

So grab a notebook, get writing and I can’t wait to hear how you are gifted.

For more information on spiritual gifts including a test to learn what yours may be, visit: http://www.giftstest.com