FJWL_02:546
         (Dad:) The Lord doesn't give us a whole bunch of gifts and talents all at once. Many times they're years in the making. Many times our gifts take years of practice and use before they actually become gifts. Just think, I was almost 50 years old before some of my gifts really started being used! All those years they were gifts in the making. I was learning, growing! So it's not that you're not gifted, but it takes time for your gifts to grow.
         For example, a love for souls--you might not be born with it, but it can grow, and you can become a good witnesser! That's one of the greatest gifts, to have a love for souls and for witnessing.
         People look at gifts differently on Earth than we do Here. On Earth, if you can dance or sing, or you're a musician or an artist, something that is very visible and apparent, you think that is a gift. And of course those are gifts, but there are many gifts which people are gifted with that they don't even know they have, or that they don't think are gifts.
         There's the gift of experience, the gift of having your heart broken, the gift of loneliness. These are gifts because they're things you can use to help and encourage others. There's also the gift of prayer. You don't have to be eloquent--you just have to do it! Even if you just pray for other people, you can accomplish more than some of the great TV evangelists! Because it's not necessarily how much you do in the flesh that counts, but how much you pray and do in the spirit.
         So you can have the gift of prayer, of praying for people. That's a great gift! No one is a failure if they pray. No one is a failure if they witness. No one is a failure if they love--it's impossible! These are great gifts that you have.
         There's also the gift of helps. Does a little child need to be tucked in, does someone need a glass of water, does someone need a pillow for their back, does someone need a "do not disturb" sign put outside their door because they're sleeping? The gift of helps is a great gift, the gift of being a servant. These things are little in the eyes of man, but great in the Lord's eyes!



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family