Better Than You Can Imagineنموونە

Taking a Blessing Inventory

So how can you discover your Life Gift? How do you find the little bit of extra that you have to share?

A good place to start is to take inventory. As another old song says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your many blessings, see what God has done!” Like the desperate widow, take a look around your house to see what is already on the shelves.

- Check the kitchen and the dining room. Do you like to cook? Is there a spot for someone to enjoy a shared meal at your dining room table? Are there coffee mugs or teacups? Could you share conversation with someone over coffee or tea?

- Check the bedrooms. Are they full? Could God be calling you to adoption or foster care? What about the playroom? Are there toys that need to be played with? Games that could be shared at a VBS or a Boys and Girls Club?

- Check the closets. Do you see blankets or coats that could be keeping someone warm? Maybe you’ll find a pair of running shoes, some exercise equipment, or a bag of golf clubs. Could you share that activity with a child as a coach or mentor? Is there a relationship that could be built during a morning run or on the back nine of the local golf course?

- Check the garage. Do you have reliable transportation that you could share with someone who doesn’t? Do you have crafting supplies or building tools? How could you use those skills for someone else? Better yet, to whom could you teach those skills?

- Check the backyard. Maybe there’s a garden out back. You could share the fruit. You could share the gardening itself.

- Check the walls. Maybe there’s artwork you’ve created hanging there or photos you’ve taken. Maybe someone has never had another person take the time to sketch their portrait or photograph for them.

- Check your calendar. How do you spend your time? What relationships are you investing in? What activities do you look forward to? What are your hobbies, your pastimes, your entertainments? Is there a way you could invite someone new into your life? Or a way you could invest more deeply in someone you already cross paths with?

You may not see right away what your Life Gift is, and that’s okay. Just have your eyes open. When you approach the world with a readiness to hear from God—an openness to the voice of the Holy Spirit—eventually God will speak to you.