Talents

Every week, Anna’s youth group offered volunteer opportunities. She watched her friends sign up to visit the nursing home or bake treats for a church fundraiser. Could I really help? she thought. She felt awkward imagining striking up a conversation with a stranger. And she’d tried baking cookies once, but her younger brother had taken one bite and spit it out.

“You can come with me to the nursing home,†her friend Ellie suggested. But when they visited the nursing home, Anna liked the people but didn’t feel like she was good at talking with them. She went home feeling discouraged.

That evening, as she sat down at the table with her sketchpad, her mom joined her.

“I want to help people, but I’m not good at anything,†Anna told her mom.

“That’s not true,†her mom said. “Think about it. What talents do you have?â€

Anna’s brows lowered. “I don’t have a talent.â€

“Sure, you do,†said Mom, pointing to Anna’s sketchpad. “Look what you’re doing.â€

Anna frowned. “Drawing? That won’t help people.â€

“It could. You could draw pictures for the people at the nursing home. And you could make cards for church members who are sick.â€

It didn’t seem like enough. Anna looked at her drawing. It was a simple picture of a bird, but could it make someone happy?

Before her next youth group meeting, Anna worked on several more drawings. She told her pastor her mom’s idea. “I love it!†he said.

Anna smiled. Drawing wasn’t a traditional way to volunteer, but she loved using her gift to show Jesus’ love to others. • Bethany Acker

• As Christians, we’re all called to love and serve others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ (Galatians 6:9-10). We have an opportunity to glorify Christ in every talent and task (Colossians 3:17, 23-24). What are some of your talents? How could you use those talents to serve others?

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone— especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:10 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Galatians 6:9-10; Colossians 3:17, 23-24