My Gift Is Beauty

     The other night, we read the book "Your Special Gift" by Max Lucado before we put the girls to bed. If you don't know the book, it's a cute story about a woodcarver named Eli and his beloved creation, the Wemmicks. Through a series of events and conversations, the Wemmicks learn that Eli gave all the Wemmicks special gifts they they were suppose to use to help a family in need. The gifts that Eli, their creator, gave were intended for the benefit of others, not themselves.

     After we read the book, we talked about the gifts God has given us to help others. This is how part of the conversation went:

Heidi: Gracie, what do you think daddy's gift is?

Gracie: I think daddy's gift is singing! What's your gift mommy?

Heidi: I think my gift is working with kids and teaching.

Gracie: Mommy, I think I know what my gift is!

Heidi: You do? What do you think your gift is?

Gracie: My gift is BEAUTY!

     At this point Heidi and I are laughing hysterically! (I know, I know. We're terrible parents for laughing at our children) So we try to explain that the gifts God gives us are things we can use to help others and encourage others and build up others. This is something the Corinthian church struggled with. And last night was a good reminder for me that everything God gives me is to serve others and not myself.

"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." 

- 1 Corinthians 12:7