Picture by Caprice Miller
Art - "Standing Ovation" by Anitra Blayton
“Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!” – Psalm
41:1
I really appreciate a good performance. I also appreciate the beauty of the world
around me in nature and art. And I
appreciate desserts too – chocolate especially.
There are a lot of other things I appreciate also, but we’ll stop at
these categories. I have to admit though;
I probably don’t show my appreciation for the things I appreciate in a way that
lets others know just how much I appreciate these things. Instead, I tend to take things for granted
more often than not. I just trust that
people know that they did a good job in their performance, their display of art
or creating something delicious. I would
also admit that there are times that I actually envy those skills and spend a
lot of time trying to do something similar or better. I soon find myself
frustrated at my attempt and just quit the whole project. In the midst of it all I’m left wondering how
those people make it look so easy and how my attempt could be such a flop?
The sculpture featured above can be found in Terminal D
of the DFW airport. Caprice actually
looked up the story behind the piece.
Basically the artist wanted to give a reminder that we should more quickly
applaud those around us who are doing good things. There are so many around us each and every
day who share their gifts and talents with us.
However, we may have become so use to it that we take it for granted and
don’t think of it as special any longer.
I dare say that many don’t even consider their own gifts and talents as
special at all. That’s sort of the
secret of understanding if it is a gift or talent…it may come easy to you, but
to someone else, they wonder how in the world you do that thing you do.
These skills are
truly God-given. Within each of His
creation God has woven unique abilities that help to set us apart from each
other. These are also the very things
that give us joy as we do them. And in
turn, they give joy to those around us also.
It is important to remember that gifts and talents are not limited to musical,
artistic or culinary skills. Many times
we overlook the gifts and talents of those who make life simpler because of
their gift of hospitality or administration or encouragement or organization or
wisdom and a whole list of other “out-of-the-spotlight” skills. The bottom line is that we ALL have gifts and
talents. God wired us with these gifts
and talents to use and share and to appreciate in ourselves and others
also.
It is interesting though that many times we don’t
appreciate these gifts within us because they do come so easy to us. We feel that “surely anyone can do what I do because
it’s easy.” Not so. You are made with unique gifts and talents
for a unique purpose in life. Do not be
distracted by the enemy who would like for you to believe otherwise. Don’t envy what you don’t have. Instead, appreciate and applaud the gifts and
talents of others and recognize and appreciate what you have been given
yourself. As you do, show appreciation
to God and thank Him for what He has given.
Ask God to guide you in just how He would like for you to
use what He has given you for His purposes – the purpose you were created
for. By pursuing His purpose for your
life and utilizing your God-given gifts and talents you will find that you
applaud others for doing the same instead of envying their gifts and
talents. Soon you may even lead others
in what the verse above says as you show your appreciation: “Come, everyone! Clap your
hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!”
