Gifted for Something?
by Steve Goodier
I heard of a woman who operated a daycare for children from her
home. As she transported children in her car one day, a fire
truck zoomed by. The kids were thrilled to see a Dalmatian on the
front seat, just like in the old-time stories.
They began a conversation about the duties of a "fire dog." One
child suggested that they use the dog to keep the crowds back.
Another said the Dalmatian is just for good luck. But young Jamie
brought the argument to an end when he said, "They use the dog to
find the hydrant!"
He reminds us that we all have useful abilities, if sniffing out
fire hydrants is a useful ability. Some of our skills are
apparent. Some are hidden. Some probably haven't even been
discovered. Some can be improved with work -- lots of mine fall
into this category.
Madame Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (she won
two), said this about giftedness: "Life is not easy for any of
us, but what of that? We must have perseverance and above all
confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for
something and that this thing must be attained."
I like that. "We must believe that we are gifted for something."
Do you believe you are gifted for something? Do you know what
that "something" is?
American football's William Floyd probably thought his athletic
ability was his greatest gift. But then he injured his knee
halfway through his 1995 season with the San Francisco Forty-
Niners. The talented athlete was out for the rest of the season.
It was then that he found a gift he may not have known he
possessed.
William Floyd still wanted to contribute and he did NOT want his
self pity to spill over to the rest of the team. So he stood on
the sidelines at every workout and in every game and encouraged
his teammates on. He shouted and cajoled; he motivated and
consoled; he became a dominating presence and a source of great
inspiration for his team. He had a remarkable ability for
bringing out the best in others.
At the end of the year, his teammates voted him the player "who
best exemplifies inspirational and courageous play." As much as
they needed him on the field, they discovered how much they
needed him on the sidelines, urging them to do and to be their
best. I wonder if his newly-found life skill, his gift of
positive motivation, could prove more useful than even his
athletic ability?
What if we believed we were "gifted for something"? What
difference would that make?
And what if we believed we should do something about it? What
difference would that make? What difference COULD that make?
I think a lot of life is about finding that out.
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http://LifeSupportSystem.com.