Learning New Talents

Brett and I had decided a couple of months after we moved into the Rolla Ward that we wanted to get to know one of the brothers a little better. However, since he communicates in sign language we needed help from my friend who interprets for him during church. We wanted to be able to stand at the pulpit to share our testimonies in sign language during testimony meeting at the first Sunday of the month to surprise him.
I was very nervous because I knew I was still really slow at signing, and I needed to speak at the same time so that everyone else in the congregation would know what I was signing. I could tell by the expression on the brother's face at how happy he was that I was signing my testimony and that he could watch me say it, instead of having it interpreted to him.

God gives us talents. Sometimes they come naturally and sometimes they are things we learn and become good at. Some people may think they don't have any talents. We need to remember that talents are given for the purpose of blessing the lives of others. That's why we need each other. One person's talents don't just belong to them; they belong to everyone who benefits from the exercise of those talents.

If you don't think you have talents, look at what people compliment you on. It may be that you always pick out cute clothes, recognize when people need help, can sympathize and/or empathize, you know how to grow a garden, you have a good memory, you're a great listener, or maybe you can fold a fitted sheet. Even the simple, silent things we take for granted might be some of our greatest strengths that give great blessings to those around us.

One of my wonderful talents is that I can play the piano. Piano takes a lot of practice to be good at. I may make it seem like it doesn't take any effort, but I do have to put in a lot of work to make good music happen. When people listen to me play they say they wish they had talent. But they do have talent. Just by listening to me play they are showing their appreciation and gratitude for good music. If we all were concert pianists, who would be the audience?