Favored
There are a couple of names that come to mind when I think about being favored. Abram. Mary. Elizabeth. Joseph. We tend to think that somehow favor means that we won’t endure hardships. Not so. In fact, Mary saw her son crucified, and Joseph was sold into slavery. I am starting to think that favor has more to do with God’s ability to trust you with hardships. When you are favored, God knows you will lean into him during hardships instead of choosing to run away. God knows that the result of testing your faith, will make you a better witness and ultimately a better disciple. Have your found yourself in a season of testing? Have you felt like it was too much for you to bear? Ask yourself are you favored?
What’s your Superpower?
I went to a superhero birthday party this weekend for a four year old who refers to herself as “SuperSpeed.” I listened as kids declared what their superpowers were as if it were a real thing. To them, it was very real. One little boy went up to his mom and expressed concern about losing his powers. I thought, “what’s my superpower?”
Technically, we are all born with gifts and talents that need to be cultivated. What are you good at? What do you love to do? What can you do effortlessly? That’s your superpower. Writing is my superpower. Being a mom is my superpower. Being a wife is my superpower. I can do these things in my sleep with the help of my handy dandy “to-do” list. What’s your superpower?
Buried Treasure
The Alchemist is one of my favorite books. The main character goes on a journey to find some buried treasure. In the end, he does find it, just not where he thought it would be. Many of us look for treasure where it can’t be found. Many of us bury the gifts and talents that God has given us. We do not take full advantage of all the opportunities that are given to us. Maximize today. Maximize every day, and every opportunity. Dig up those talents and gifts. Brush them off and give them a second try. I implore you to not die a buried treasure.
Talented
Talent is described as natural skill or aptitude. What do you do well? Can you cook? Can you bake? Can you build? Can you write? Can you draw? Are you good at connecting people? Rediscover your talent. Rediscover your passion. Rediscover your purpose. Revisit your vision. Rewrite the vision. Invest in you. You are talented!
Opportunity Knocks
Most of us are prepared when opportunity knocks. I've always heard people say, "you don't have to get ready if you stay ready." If we are actively preparing ourselves for what's next, we welcome opportunities to grow and improve ourselves. What if you find yourself unprepared? You've got to start somewhere. Chalk it up as a missed opportunity and learn from your mistakes. What can you do today to better yourself? Take a class. Learn that new language. Update your resume. Do something. Prepare. Opportunity is knocking.
Gifted
I was introduced to Nina Simone at a young age. I loved her raspy voice. I loved how she sang her politics and called it all jazz. I loved how this unapologetically big nosed black woman was able to leave us feeling good, spellbound, all while telling stories about four women and strange fruit. She was one of the first to tell me that I was young, gifted, and black. I learned that my youth was a gift. I learned that my blackness was a gift. I learned that my ability to write and express myself poetically was a gift.
Your intellect, your sense of humor, your business acumen are all a gift. Be unapologetically who you are because you are a gift. You are gifted. You are blessed. You are a blessing. To truly be young, black, and gifted is to recognize that you are the gift. Your complexion, your hair, your smile, your hips, your thighs, your nose and your eyes are a gift. Your sincerity, your peace, your joy, your faith, your heart, your spirit are a gift. You are gifted! Your talents, your treasure, your pain and your pleasure are a gift. Your desire, your dreams, your plans and your purpose are a gift. You are gifted.
Party
'Tis the Season. It's Christmas Time. It's my favorite time of year. The invites should be rolling in for Christmas parties. The family Christmas cards should be arriving any day now. Kids are peeking under the tree. The sound of Christmas is everywhere, but sometimes I want to ask what are we celebrating? What are all the parties for? Have we forgotten the real reason for the season? Does our Christmas list include the less fortunate? Does our giving include our service or just our money? Sometimes, I feel like Christmas is a bunch of strangers crashing a birthday party for someone they don't even know. Sometimes, I want to ask were you invited to the party or are you just a plus one?