Wow! Talk about knowing yourself! I just took another very in-depth profile of myself, and I realized this morning that for the last 1-2 years, I have done some heavy-duty Kem Thomas Lutz studies! Now before I become repentant for all the self-study, let me be reminded that God created me – unique – for an exact use in His puzzle of life. I am simply a piece of His Dream. I must recognize that I am a very specific piece with definite curves (that’s obvious! Lol) and shape that interconnect with other specific pieces. My color, hue, brightness, or pastel is extremely important in presenting the big picture as the Father – Creator and Designer – would have it. It is not my choice – I must know myself and how best to BE myself. I need to know what to do and what not to try to do, and let other people pick up those things that they like to do and that I don’t do well.
So, finding my top three strengths is my first quest. How can someone fully utilize an instrument (car, cell phone, sewing machine, etc.) that they don’t fully study and understand? As Shakespeare said so well,
“Know Thyself, and to thine own self be true.”
God gave me, and He gave you, a few excellent, superb, outstanding gifts, or as I like to think of them – toys, with which to play. Any parent or teacher knows that warm feeling that comes over them when they’ve given a gift (toy) to their child, and the child simply “wears it out” using it so much. I remember buying a stuffed animal for my grandson Israel which he carried with him for years and only let it go (as dirty and raggedy as it was) when it got lost! I was so pleased that he loved my gift so much and played with it regularly!
So, how do we think God feels when He gives us a very special gift – a talent, ability or propensity – and we ignore it or are embarrassed to use it? An example I think of is having a beautiful voice, but refusing to sing because everyone is watching and listening, and we might make mistakes. Knowing yourself and the gifts God has given you….and using them….is honoring to Him, and it’s the only way to truly BE you!
Be like little children not afraid to fall down, to drop it, or spill it. Run and play with your gift until it is fully developed, and through the practice and use of it, give glory to God as He proudly watches you enjoy your present!