“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.“
Romans 12:6 NIV
I took on a new job: I am the home school choir administrator! I’m excited and nervous and overwhelmed and so so thankful that I get to do this while my kids are being home schooled. It’s a dream I didn’t know I had.
I have always been in food service. I had 10+ years under my holding-up-my-uniform-pants-belt before leaving the workforce when I was 8 months pregnant with my oldest daughter.
I have also always had a problem with jumping the gun on communicating, talking for others, and letting ideas spew out of my head faster than they can be received.
I was constantly taking what needed to be done and putting it on myself without being asked. This works well in running my house, but not so great in working a line job. It confused people and frustrated more than one boss, and I was reprimanded more than a few times in more than one job.
But now this gets to be my job.
I get to be the first to communicate. I am expected to be in the know for multiple rings of communication. And the ideas I spew out are in my own realm to run with and see where they go.
Do I have full creative license? Not yet.
Do I know what I’m doing? In theory, yes. But I expect a learning curve to go up for the next 3 years.
Am I doing this to promote myself? Not at all. I fully expect people to be confused at the need for change, but hope that they are pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the choir can run.
How am I doing all this? With LOTS of prayer!! (Pray for me, too, please? We all can use prayer, and God hears us from wherever we are.)
Within the first few hours, my jump-the-gun instincts were already being used to inquire about our concert venue availability. I couldn’t have done that before, but now I can run with it!
What got me in trouble – so, so much trouble – is finally getting to be used as a blessing.
Instead of being told “stay put!” I have gotten a go- ahead to make changes and work to create something beautiful and easy for something I care very deeply about.
So, that trait that you can’t seem to shake that even annoys you sometimes? It may be holding on to become a future blessing.
Let’s pray:
Dear Lord,
You have made each one of us with desires and tendencies that are unique. Thank You for putting these in us for a greater purpose – to be used for Your glory. God, I pray for patience in figuring out why we have these talents and where they fit into Your plan, even when they seem to fall into the negative on the outside. Help us to know Your will for our lives and know that You have a reason for the way we behave and think, even if it takes a long time to find out.
We love you, too, God.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen