What are Your 2 Mites?

Last night I was hoping to have some lucid dreams that had significance instead of the goofy mixed up ones that I could barely remember in the morning. Something that I asked for as I lay in bed was a peaceful rest. 

What came to me was somewhat of a lesson, or an amalgamation of things I have been hearing over the past days and weeks. Somewhat of an "aha! moment," if you will.

A little over a week ago, Andrew taught about the parable of the talents. Now, I don't think it was a mistake or a coincidence that the original language was translated as "talents." Yes, it did refer to money in the original culture, but the application is so much broader than how we steward our money. How we steward the character qualities, the gifts that God has given us, is equally as important as we learn to discern how God is working in our lives.

It came to me in the form of a dream last night in which I was trying to convey the concept to my friend Tami who teaches and loves on the young children at church. What a perfect age to start learning what it looks like for God to be working in and through you to accomplish His greater plan. 

I started thinking of people I know who are gifted in areas that I am lacking. My friend Denyse has the uncanny ability to SEE people who are overlooked by others and make them feel SEEN. People who are shy, introverted, or wounded easily pop onto her radar, and she does not shirk at singling them out, talking to them, hearing their story, and often - if the situation warrants it - doing something to help when there is a need to be met. She is also gifted with what we jokingly call the "Martha Stewart anointing." No one I know can organize and pull off a simple or a special gathering so creatively and elegantly and all the while make people feel welcome and right at home.

With so many good examples in the friends that I have, I could go on for quite awhile listing their talents or gifts, but I think maybe just elaborating on a few will get the thought across of how we can be on the lookout to recognize - and possibly call out - these qualities and gifts where we see them.

Recognizing gifts we see in others can go a long way toward nurturing and growing a gift that is maybe unseen by the one with that particular talent. I know people who are gifted with numbers and arithmetic - to the point that they can merely look at a long list of numbers and tell you within a few dollars what the total is. They are also gifted with understanding statistics and how to apply them to practical matters, such as investing, saving, budgeting, and managing resources. This gift has translated to helping people with limited resources and blessing the local church and beyond.

As important and meaningful as such talents as music, acting, writing, and other gifts of artistic expression are, how we use them to bless others and thereby glorify God is equally - if not more important. Years ago, there was a father who brought his twin sons regularly to mows lawns and rake leaves at the church. Not only was he quietly displaying a gift of service, he was instilling in his sons the importance of giving back to bless others. It is not insignificant that Jesus pointed out to the disciples the widow who gave 2 mites. The amount of money we give, the "significance" that others attribute to our talent is irrelevant when it does not bring honor to God and further His kingdom in the lives of others and our community.

Comforting the sick or bereaved, standing up for the marginalized, sewing quilts for the veteran's home or foster agency, singing in a rest home, giving half of your sandwich to someone on the playground who "forgot" their lunch, walking 2 miles through the park with friends with friends to raise funds to feed the homeless or provide clean water in an African village, speaking truth to someone who has been living a life deceived by lies... there are so many ways and instances where we think we only have 2 mites, but God is able and regularly shows up and multiplies our meagre talents and gifts to transform and reform.

And all this, because we ask.