Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Bulletin boards will be full of turkeys portraying expressions of thankfulness as we are encouraged to have an attitude of gratitude this holiday season. When asked, “What are you thankful for?” most of us list the obvious (e.g., family, friends, health, finances, and Jesus, of course). No doubt we should be thankful for all of those things (and more), but what if we put a little twist on Thanksgiving this year? What if we shifted our focus inward and said, “I’m thankful for ME!”
I’m not suggesting that we become arrogant or boastful. Instead, I believe Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on how God created each of us in His image with unique talents, personality traits, and spiritual gifts. Recently, I attended a Bible study meeting where the facilitator asked us to share something we were good at as an icebreaker. There was complete silence. Some may not have felt comfortable sharing, but later, several people mentioned, “I never think about my strengths; I’m too focused on what I need to improve!”
I would venture to say this is probably true for most of us. We often dedicate more time to addressing our shortcomings than to enhancing our God-given talents. While there's nothing wrong with the desire to improve, what if we took some time this Thanksgiving season to reflect on the positive aspects of who we are? What if we acknowledged how God has purposefully wired us to be unique and exceptional? Let’s twist things up a bit!
To embrace this challenge effectively, it is important to identify part of what makes each of us unique – our personalities, talents, and spiritual gifts. I’m reminded of Psalm 139:13-14.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
When was the last time you took a moment to thank God for the remarkable complexity and marvel that is you? Embrace your uniqueness; it truly is a beautiful gift! While we could easily quote this verse and move on, it’s important to delve deeper. Let’s pause to reflect on the qualities that differentiate us and understand why it is essential to celebrate them with a heart full of gratitude!
PERSONALITIES
Educators have a front-row seat to personalities galore! Some students are extroverts while others are introverts. Some make lists, but others can’t find their lists! Some are attentive to detail while others focus on the big picture. Some are driven by their emotions, and others have a quiet presence. Some students are driven to achieve while others simply are not. Some like to be outside, and others prefer to remain inside. I’m listing these traits as if they are opposite ends of a spectrum, but we all know student differences vary in degrees as well.
According to the American Psychological Association, personality refers to the enduring characteristics and behaviors that comprise a person’s unique adjustment to life, including major traits, interests, drives, values, self-concept, abilities, and emotional patterns. (1) That is a mouthful, but in essence, our unique and complex personality is all part of God’s design. How has God designed you? Are you driven? Easy-going? Talkative? Reserved? Prepared? Spontaneous? Passionate? Calm? What interests you? What fills your bucket? What makes you, you?
Put a twist on your Thanksgiving. In your list of items for which to be thankful, be sure to thank God for how He was wired you. Don’t focus on the areas you need to improve; we all have them. Instead, own the unique personality traits you have been given. Often our personality traits coincide with God’s call on our lives. Knowing our natural tendencies can help us be sensitive to the places where we can ultimately serve God and others.
TALENTS
Have you ever had a student who…
wrote narratives with ease, utilizing engaging vocabulary?
drew beautiful visuals?
got along with everyone?
was extremely coordinated, often succeeding in sports?
thought outside the box, regularly generating creative ideas?
The Cambridge Dictionary defines talent as a natural skill or ability to be good at something, especially without being taught. (2) Not to be confused with spiritual gifts, part of God’s design for you and me includes special talents. Natural talent is usually a combination of genetics and our upbringing. For example, if you were raised in a musical family, you are much for likely to exhibit and develop a musical talent. The same is true for athletics. Many Olympians have children who follow in their footsteps and become second and third-generation Olympians.
Talents – like spiritual gifts – are given to us by God. One of the best examples of this in Scripture can be found in Exodus 31. Moses was charged with building the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant, but he didn’t have the skills to do it. So God provided men with special talents to help him.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft (v.1-5).
Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make (v.6b).” Emphasis mine.
The talents we are given either through genetics, upbringing, or Godly intervention are meant to be developed, celebrated, and used to serve God and others. What a shame to have a natural talent and keep it to yourself! There very well may be a “Moses” in your life who needs YOUR talents to complete a God-sized task!
Sometimes I think we shy away from using our talents because we are fearful of being prideful or boastful. Other times we may not feel our talent is good enough. Don’t buy into these deceptions. Put a twist on this Thanksgiving! Identify your talents and thank God for His careful design in your life!
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
It’s easy to get talents and spiritual gifts mixed up because there is often overlap between the two. While talents are mostly the product of genetics and/or training, spiritual gifts are the result of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul taught new believers about unity in the church and the use of spiritual gifts to serve the body of Christ. Notice what he said in verses 7 and 11.
In verse 7, the ESV says, To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. The NLT states it this way: A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
After listing some of the spiritual gifts, Paul concluded with this: It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have (v. 11 NLT).
Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to those who put their faith in Christ. Spiritual gifts are meant for the sole purpose of serving God in ways that benefit others, especially in the church. If you are a believer in Christ, you have at least one spiritual gift and probably more! God’s goal for each of us is to be like Jesus. (3) Therefore, He gives us spiritual gifts to serve Him in supernatural ways.
You might be reading this and wondering what your spiritual gift is. The three main passages describing spiritual gifts are Romans 12:6–8, 1 Corinthians 12:4–11, and 1 Corinthians 12:28. Keep in mind that this is not an all-inclusive list. There are many online surveys to discover your spiritual gift(s), but the best strategy is often discovered when we serve and prayerfully ask God where He wants to use us to meet a need. While it may not always be the case, I tend to believe God also uses our personalities and talents in combination with a spiritual gift to help us accomplish for the Kingdom what we could never do on our own.
Put a twist on this Thanksgiving. Give thanks for the supernatural giftings in your life!
The Bible says, Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all. (4) As your students write essays on thankfulness or as you put up gratitude sayings on a bulletin board, don’t leave yourself out! Join me in praying this prayer.
Dear Lord, thank You for making me who I am. Thank You for Your tender care in giving me a unique personality and talents that are mine alone. Help me, Lord, to express my thankfulness by honoring You and serving others. I am so astonished and grateful for Jesus. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, I get to partner with You by using my gifts through the power of the Holy Spirit. Give me the eyes to see needs, the confidence to act, and the love to minister to those who are hurting. Help me to let go of my shortcomings and embrace the truth that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. In Jesus name, Amen.
REFERENCES
3. Romans 8:29
4. James 1:17
Comments