Peace…Joy…Natural…Productive…Sustaining: Using Your Gifts

In a recent Your Unique Design Class, I asked participants to share their answers to the question:

 What does it look/feel like when you are using one or more of your gifts?

 Here are some of their responses, followed by some of their top gifts:

 ·         There is a peace and joy that I feel when I am encouraging or guiding others, knowing God made me to do this. [Gifts of Exhortation, Shepherding]

·         It feels natural. It takes less effort and intentionality and self-control than low ones. Invigorating, exciting, I want to share and celebrate.  [Gifts of Faith, Wisdom, Administration, Evangelism]

·         When using my gifts it seems easy, natural, and the thing to do. However, I feel very uncomfortable if someone acknowledges all my “hard work” as it’s not work at all. [Gifts of Helps, Mercy, Craftsmanship, Hospitality, Wisdom]

·         It just comes so naturally it does not feel like it takes any effort. Sometimes it is a lot of fun. [Gifts of Mercy, Faith, Helps, Administration, Exhortation]

·         It feels productive and I feel like I’ve accomplished something. I see it leading meetings or getting meetings back on track and noting action items to be completed to meet the meetings’ objectives [Gifts of Administration, Exhortation, Faith, Helps]

·         Through sickness and aging parents far away, my faith carried me through difficult times. Connecting with seniors, inviting newcomers, introducing people—all use my gift of Hospitality. [Gifts of Faith, Helps, Hospitality, Discernment, Mercy]

 

As each person shared the above, their energy, enthusiasm, and animation all were evident! And, in just one or two sentences, those of us observing could also see evidence of their gifts.

 

For example, the person who said:

·         There is a peace and joy that I feel when I am encouraging or guiding others, knowing God made me to do this. [Gifts of Exhortation, Shepherding]

…naturally encouraged others throughout the two-session course. We could see his passion for shepherding and exhorting those around him.

 

The person who said:

·         When using my gifts it seems easy, natural, and the thing to do. However, I feel very uncomfortable if someone acknowledges all my “hard work” as it’s not work at all. [Gifts of Helps, Mercy, Craftsmanship, Hospitality, Wisdom]

…articulated what many (most) with gifts of Helps and/or Mercy also say—that they not only shy away from being acknowledged publicly, but they also see those gifts as such an extension of themselves that it’s truly their common, expected response to a given situation. We do need to be sure that the rest of us do not treat their contributions as “common” or “expected”—but as essential to the healthy functioning of the Body of Christ—the church.

 

I particularly loved the comment:

·         It feels productive and I feel like I’ve accomplished something. I see it leading meetings or getting meetings back on track and noting action items to be completed to meet the meetings’ objectives [Gifts of Administration, Exhortation, Faith, Helps]

…spoken like one with the Gift of Administration!! And, whatever would the church do without her and others like her? We applaud the teaching pastor and worship leader—the up-front, perhaps more “flashy” contributors but, without the Gift of Administration (or Helps or Giving etc.), we might not have a place to hold worship services, we likely would not be prepared nor on time. If we need productive brainstorming, planning meetings, printed bulletins, email blasts, greeting teams, ushers, connection center folks, worship assistants, communion servers, etc. etc. etc., the Administrators among us—who LOVE to keep things on track—are not only important, they are indispensable!

 

And, from the reactions of others in the room lacking the Gift of Administration, it was clear that her comment could not have been repeated by others. Her gifts gave her a unique “lane” in which to operate…as your gifts do, too.

 

Important resources:

 

 

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

 

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis. 

All rights reserved.

 

Shirley Giles Davis