Doctrine & Covenants 89: 18-19

"And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures."

1.14.2011

Spill It

By Ember

I mentioned long ago that one of the most important factors of holistic living is the ability to be honest with yourself. We live in a world that has NO problem pointing out faults. And we likely spend a lot of time focused on our own and those around us. I know I surely do. And yes, this, by the way, has a lot to do with health. But I am focusing on spiritual health here.

So, I have a challenge for you, fellow contributors and readers. I want us to each be brutally honest about our strengths, in particular those things we know are our divine gifts. Can we not all become comfortable with acknowledging the good in ourselves and those we are involved with? What would happen if we weren't seen as bragging or being conceited and proud? What if we could just accept that divine heritage we are each born with and are developing? How would the world ultimately be changed is we became Greatness Seekers. Well, maybe not the whole world, but certainly OUR world would change. Right?

What makes you special, GREAT even?

I will go first. (Hey now, no "Wow, she's boldly conceited!" allowed. Remember, we are trying to get rid of that thinking. :-) This feels really risky in truth. And somebody has to start.)

I have the divine gift of being able to see the invisible person. I always have. It's that person who is sitting on the sidelines, hoping, praying that someone will notice them. Not only do I see them, I do something about it. I introduce myself and I make sure others have the opportunity to meet them too. I have met the most amazing people as a result and I feel so grateful for this ability. This has also given me the chance to learn so many new things and see the world through a new perspective.

I have learned how to keep a secret really, really well. I guess you could call this being trustworthy. I view the things that people share with me as little gifts of themselves. And it's a good thing since most people seem to spill their guts to me. Hmmm... What would we call that? The gift of breathing truth telling serum? Heehee.

I am strong, in body, mind and spirit. I stood in a cemetery, a year and a half ago, after burying my much beloved grandfather, where generations of my ancestors are also buried. I looked at their names on the headstones. And I kid you not, it was one of the most tangible spiritual moments of my life, but I could feel those women telling me that this was their gift, passed down to me through my blood. I am strong because they were and they gifted it to me. What's even more awesome is being able to recognize that same quality in my own daughters. I also seem to instinctively sense it in others.

What are your gifts? Please share openly, without fear of ridicule or feelings of conceit. Use a fake name if you must. I did.

You are amazing and accepting that is part of acknowledging your divine inheritance. I wish I could find words to persuasively express this truth. Yes, Heavenly Father wants us to overcome weakness and sins which requires recognizing them. However, He never wants us to forget who we really are. He expects us to accept the talents/gifts He's given us and not bury them in the sand. He wants us to cultivate greatness and our gifts of the spirit. They lie within every single one of us.

This is your time to shout to the world, who you really are.

So, my sweets, spill it!

17 comments:

  1. I know when people are lying... or, to reword it a little, I have the gift of knowing what's right and wrong. I know we all have that a little, if we choose to use it, but I feel a very keen sense of it in my life. It's helped me stay close to the Gospel even though the rest of my family has fallen away.
    I "get" things, as in, most things just make sense to me. I don't need something explained to me over and over again, things usually just "click" in my head and stay there.
    I love this post. I'm huge on seeing the bad in myself (and others, sometimes) and if I had given someone a gift that when unrecognized or was hidden and not used, I'd feel sad. I think that's how H.F. must feel when we do that with things He's given us so freely. :) Thanks for the opportunity to see the good.

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  2. Ember and Jami, what both of you wrote got my wheels a-spinnin'! And I believe you guys are right. Heavenly Father has given us all gifts, and it is our responsibility to recognize and use these gifts, our way of thanking Heavenly Father for GIVING us the gifts.
    That said, I have had this on my mind for a while. (Not the first time Ember and I have had a similar conversation, and I would like to go on the record as saying that part of Embers gift is to help OTHERS realize their gifts!) I have really struggled with an answer to this. Finally, I realized, the reason I have struggled is that what I have been given I have always regarded as a fault. I am a wear-my-heart-on-my-sleeve type of gal. I love and care for people deeply and quickly, and I can NEVER ever hide it. I always wanted to be one of these that internalized everything. Never showed emotion. (Woody) I have always thought that there must be something wrong with me, because when I love someone,I will give everything to them. (Friends, family and romantically) Now, I realize this ability to love so thoroughly, this GIFT is what makes me a good mom, wife and friend.

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  3. (DANG IT, I couldn't figure out how to put Banancy or sweetpea on there!! ;)

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  4. Jami and Nancy, thank you for participating! What awesome gifts you both have. Thanks for sharing them. It feels good, huh?! I am so happy you understood what I was trying to convey here. It's sort of a touchy subject, I have found, since we are so used to speaking about faults.

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  5. So, you have got me thinking! It's definitely a good thing for sure! One thing that is definitely a gift for me is that believing in the gospel is very easy. It has always made sense to me and having faith is like second nature for the most part. I do still have doubts and trials but it has always seemed easy to put my trust in the lord. That is the best gift I think the Lord has given me. Thank you for putting this post up and giving me something to think about.

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  6. Ember- thanks for posting this. At this exaxt time in my life I am not feeling so great- physically and spiritually. This post reminded me that I do have spiritual gifts and just because it is a gift given to my by a loving Heavenly Father doesn't mean it will always be easy for me. So since I couldn't just tick off a list of what I am good at, I had to go and read my Patriarchal Blessing. I am glad I did. What comfort it gives me. I have an understanding mind-- I am able to understand things of a spiritual nature and able to understand the needs of others. I look back on my life and KNOW with out a doubt that sometimes the windows of heaven have been opened to me and knowledge had been given to me at the perfect moments but there are times where I am in need of help understanding the needs of others. I know it is easier when I quit focusing on me and focus on others. Thanks Ember for helping me to remember.

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  7. Did you want your fellow contributors to spill it here, or on the blog itself?

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  8. Sage, please write wherever you'd like. If it's a topic you can spin off of, then please do. I can't wait to read it regardless of where.

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  9. Jen and Apple Blossom, I was unsurprised to read of your gifts. I think they are wonderfully obvious which means you are definitely not hiding them. That is so awesome!

    I am so happy that you took the time to think about this and write it down. I hope it was as valuable for you as it was for me.

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  10. I try never to hold a complement back. I have been known to tell kids that I dont know "nice manners". I once walked right up to a lady and told her that I liked her shoes.

    I can work with teenagers. In fact I love them. Yep even the harder onces. I am in young women at church so I have ample opportunity to work with the girls and lots to work with the boys. It makes me smile when they all come over to talk to me. Even the boys.

    I tell my friends and family that I love them often. I never, never want them to wonder how I felt about them. Even if they dont say it back to me.

    I try not to be judgemental. I am definitely still working on this one. Just when I think I have my sass under control, my big mouth opens and spews out foul, rotten, nasty and demeaning comments.

    And last but not least, I have been blessed with great faith. Or so it says in my patriarchal blessing. Like Ember, I believe that this is a gift from my gram. She was a very faithful woman I believe she passed it down to me. Thanks Gram, you are truely my hero. I want to be you when I grow up.

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  11. Somehow I did that wrong. Shocking I know. That last post was done by Sassafrass. Sorry friends.

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  12. Okay, here goes Ember. Hope I don't disappoint.
    Being completely honest, this is something I struggle with. Dealing most of my life with depression and trying to learn to love myself, I have had a hard time finding my gifts. Other people can point them out, but it's hard for me to see. Since we had the lessons on gifts in RS, I have been thinking and praying about this a lot. I have even reread the lesson several times.
    My gifts are- being able to educate myself so I can educate others, a soft heart, patience, being unselfish, putting people before myself, and doing whatever I can to help others. I have taught so many car maintenance and road safety classes to women, gluten free eating classes, photography, educating women (and men) on pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies, and labor and delivery, and many more. All of which I have educated myself on because I have a passion and love for these things and want to share my knowledge with others. I plan on going to school for a few different things, all to help others, one of which is to become a doula. I am always the first one to go out of my way to give or help someone. Whether it be groceries or gas money you need, or someone to watch your kids, etc.. I give even if I don't have much to give. Whether it be health, pregnancy, illnesses, the body, all natural, healthy living, etc., I'm the type of person who wants to know it all, everything about everything. Not so I can have a big head and brag, but so that I always have an answer for anyone who asks for one. And if I don't know the answer, you better believe I'll find it.
    Thank you, Ember/Big Sis for writing this and keeping me thinking and praying about this topic.
    (And yes I typed this all on my phone (twice actually, i lost the first one), so if there are any typos, I'm not bothering to go back to fix them :) )

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  13. My gifts... I am a teacher and I love to learn. I have a lot of different interests. I have always had a love for the scriptures. Even when my life did not reflect that. I have not always used this gift like I should. I am now teaching the 11-12 year old boys at church. The New Testament... love it! I try really hard as I am planning the lesson to find something that I didn't know before. It is soooo exciting to find it, like, do you know what happened to Zacharias? the father of John the Baptist?

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  14. Sass, Mama D, and Sweety, thank you for taking the time to write. You are incredible women!

    I can't tell you how pleased I am that so many women took the time to do this. What amazing power and strength we should all be to each other as daughter's of God. How encouraging we should be of each other's gifts. I feel so blessed to know you all (minus Jami - whom I'd like to know) because with all of our gifts out there, it feels like we'd be great teamates in this game of life.

    Sweet Basil - Sadly,I have no idea.

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  15. What a great post! There is one thing I seemed to have developed lately. Compassion. Compassion for those that do really terrible things. Whenever I hear or see a news clip of someone...say...who tortured and beat their child to death, all I feel is how terrible their life must have been to bring them to that point. I think many times we forget that we are ALL Heavenly Father's children and we all have had great suffering of some sort. Those people that do those things were once small children who probably endured horrific things themselves. I have been in dark places myself. Places where I knew that if I didn't have the gospel in my life I may be just like them. Jesus Christ knows us and loves us and He knows what we go through because He has gone through it too.

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  16. Wow this is hard as I have too been down on myself as of late.
    But I do have been blessed with so many gifts. I have the gift of discernment, I know right from wrong and I have been given the courage to accept and act upon this knowledge.( I am not saying its easy, it never is) This is always why I always choose the road less travelled and spend much of my days feeling alone. I am not really accepted by those around me for who I am.
    and its tough somedays. I sometimes can feel, see others spirits. I can sense if they are good or bad, if the Lord wants me too. It can be a scary thing for me but has saved me from harm at times as well.
    I also have the gift of teaching. I love to teach. This gift is less polished. I tend to hide this gift under a bushel. It is tarnished and rusty. I need to polish and shine it and let it glow.
    I am learning to be forgiving and compassionate. I want to love others unconditionally. I do not want to judge or to be judged. I want to Love as Jesus Loves.
    I have a testimony of many things. I know God lives. I know we will Live with him again. I know that we can become a righteouse people and can be united when our Savior comes again.

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  17. Well Vanessa is a little too modest to respond to this post, so these are the gifts that I know Vanessa has;
    She makes things! Some people might say she just can't sit still but the facts remain that unless she is creating something she feels anxious. It might be food or clothes or letters or lessons for primary or something for somebody but she is always busy.
    She refuses to be offended even when people give her really good excuses. She understands that no one is perfect and is happy to help out when she can.
    I think the best thing about Vanessa is that she is dependable. She has never let me down. If she said something is going to happen it has always happened. I love her for these things and so many other reasons.
    I know that everyone else is bragging about themselves, but it seems like a women’s blog so I chose to brag about my wife. Have a great day and keep up the great work. It's good to know there are people with super powers making the world a better place.

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