Talents Are For Sharing

I believe that everyone has at least one unique talent to develop and share . . . sometimes more.

My friend, Marta Johns, is a vocalist. She thought she was too old to make a CD.

My friend, Dorinne Burkman, thought her craft of cutting out scraps of fabric and piecing them together was common.

My friend, Bonnie Jensen, who recently had her feet amputated due to a rare illness, thought her days as a "classy" woman were in the past.

Recently, I attended the National American Mothers, Inc. Convention in Portland. Marta Johns was there, performing standing-ovation arias and lullabies to hundreds of women from across the nation. She had been selected as the winner in the national AMI Vocalist Contest. Her CD, which includes the tender new song, "Read Me a Memory" (composed by her friend, Jay Richards), will be available on June 15th.

Meanwhile, a stunning blue ribbon was on display in the Art Show at the Portland Marriott . . . attached to the gorgeous quilt that was crafted by the uncommonly skilled hands of Dorinne Burkman.

At the Awards Luncheon, Bonnie Jensen stood at the pulpit on her new prosthetics and read her first-place essay, "Treasures Out of Tragedy" . . . a powerful and moving account of her resounding triumph over adversity. It’s trite to say this, but there really wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Although the crowd included dignitaries and leaders from nearly every state in the Union, nobody in attendance would have challenged the fact that she was the classiest woman in the room.

Not all talents can be recognized in a competition. However, all talents are God-given, and that means they are of eternal worth. Who can attach a prize or a price to the talent of compassion or to the gift of being able to genuinely laugh at a child’s first joke?

Everyone has at least one talent that is unique and meaningful. If you haven’t discovered yours, please don’t wait another moment to search for it and take the risk to reach for opportunities to share. Someone very near needs exactly what you have to give.