{"id":441,"date":"2013-06-03T16:19:34","date_gmt":"2013-06-03T16:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/onfire\/?p=441"},"modified":"2013-06-03T19:51:52","modified_gmt":"2013-06-03T19:51:52","slug":"how-to-grow-your-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/onfire\/2013\/06\/03\/how-to-grow-your-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Grow Your Talent"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Grow<\/a>
Grow Your Talent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In old age, I don\u2019t want to review my life and wish I\u2019d done more with the talent given me. I don\u2019t want to wonder what held me back. Should I have found better teachers? Practiced more? Knocked on more doors? <\/i>I don\u2019t want to remember a fork in the road when, after facing the 100th obstacle, I gave up.<\/p>\n

Because I\u2019ll know in my heart of hearts I didn\u2019t value my small, budding talent enough. Enough to give it everything.<\/p>\n

So, I\u2019m writing a Talent Manifesto. The Manifesto is a declaration, a guide\u2014for me and for you:<\/p>\n

TALENT MANIFESTO<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 I\u2019ll receive my talent, even though very, very small, as a gift<\/a> from God. A gift God expects me to develop.*<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 My talent takes me out into the world. Therefore, I\u2019ll keep an open mind to the possibilities. I\u2019ll use my talent on behalf of children, the elderly, the poor, the rich, the imprisoned, and the privileged.<\/p>\n

3. I will stay abreast of what others accomplish in my field and learn from them. However, I won\u2019t stack my talent up next to someone else\u2019s and judge mine as inferior. Daily I\u2019ll remind myself that God created every person unique. Who I am and the talent entrusted to me is a one-time event. Comparison is invalid. Ridiculous. Poison.<\/p>\n

4. I will see obstacles as necessary lessons. Everything is training. In time, frustration and discouragement will only increase my passion.<\/p>\n

5. I\u2019ll develop my talent whether or not there are visible results. I\u2019ll enjoy recognition and rewards if they come. But I know appreciation is like an after dinner mint\u2014not required.<\/p>\n

Then, as I review my life before passing over to the other side, I\u2019ll be able to say, \u201cI gave it everything I had\u2026 Thank you, God, for my talent.\u201d<\/p>\n

– – – – –<\/p>\n

*See The parable of the talents\/investment in Matthew 25<\/a><\/p>\n

– – – – –<\/p>\n

Thanks for stopping by ON FIRE. Your comments and feedback are welcomed. gloria@gloriarose.com<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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