Dear reader, I am happy you are here.
I have been reflecting on the journey I am on, all my blessings and opportunities I have been given. It brings me back to a happy memory, one of a spiritual revelation that brought me here today.
Four years ago, before I started selling my work at shows, I was reading a book by the wonderful Christian author Kim Vogel Sawyer. Unfortunately, I do not remember which book since I have read all of hers. In this book the author quoted the Parable of Talents. I did not understand why this was being used in this story. I have heard this parable in a couple of church sermons before and it has always been presented as “the church’s sales pitch for tithing,” well at least that is how I received the message. After she quoted this parable, she weaved it beautifully into the story where it spoke to me. The money used in this story is used to represent our God-given talents. Reading Mathew chapter 25, it tells of a man that represents Jesus who is going away on a journey. He entrusts his wealth with three of his servants. The first getting five bags, the second two bags, and the third man only one bag was given. When the man was away, the servants did what they thought best with the treasure they have been given. The two with the greatest amount of wealth invested and received a good return. The man entrusted with only one bag decided to bury the gold in the ground. I love verse twenty-five when he reports to his master: “So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” The servant admits what he did and that the gold belongs to him. The same can be said with our talents. There is only one way we receive talents, and that is from God. Do we take classes and practice our talent? Of course we do. The truth is our talents come from God, who we are all made in His image. God assigns our talents before we are created, and he places them inside us as we are knitted in our mother’s womb.
After having this new understanding of the parable, I found other Bible verses that spoke to me like 1 Peter 4:10. The Bible only confirms the message of this parable, just look at 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are various kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are various kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” I am so thankful for the talent God has given me and how he is working and guides me in my journey. It is my prayer that everyone finds and uses their God-given gift and glorifies him! The Bible has an endless list of gifts; it does not have to be big or outstanding in any way. Remember the man who represents Jesus was equally happy with the two servants who used their talents.
