Say Yes to Your Gift

Maybe you want to write. In fact, you long to be a writer. You have lots of talent and even more inspiration. But until you say yes to your gift, your longing will go unfulfilled.

 

Saying yes to your gift means that you own it. Drop the false modesty, okay? If you have a way with words, you probably can’t take much credit for it—it came to you through heredity, background, and the resources of your particular life. So it’s not being egotistical or vain to admit that you have this gift.

 

Saying yes to your gift means that now you will take responsibility for its development. Having a way with words isn’t good enough unless you’re a flat-out genius--and even a genius values learning and improving. Writing is a craft, and your gift needs to be developed. You need to learn the craft and practice it. This is your job. If you don’t develop your craft, then your gift will be wasted because it will never be truly fruitful in the world.

 

Saying yes to your gift means that you will make more room for it in your life. Maybe you have a house full of children and a spouse who is only partially employed. You have to work for a living. So you can’t afford a week-long workshop/retreat to help your gift. You can’t even give this gift an hour or two per day. But you can give it something. Maybe it’s late at night or early in the morning; maybe it’s a portion of your Saturday—a portion that ordinarily would go to housework. So give up your need to have an immaculate house. Or give up some television. Do what you can.

 

Saying yes to your gift means that you deem it an important part of your life. This is something you will learn to nurture and respect. This gift will teach you things, will give you comfort sometimes, will make you wiser. We’re not talking about a hobby to help you pass the time. This is a characteristic of your very soul, and the Good Lord gave you this gift in order to accomplish some wonder in life.

 

Saying yes will cost you—but that’s for another blog post. For now, consider your gift(s). What do you think of them, really? And will you give them more than a passing excitement? Will you say yes?

Comments

[Judi]

Very encouraging - thank you!

[ron ferreri]

with the embers of life you set my heart aflame.yet i ran with it to the darkes corner i could find.you came to me with painfull heart in hand here let me comfort you,na for the light is to bright for such a heavy heart as mine.like maidens dancing on the wings of angels,and the spring flowers singing prases of joy for the sun is bright in the sky you came to me what greater love could i have lost. do you think i my be able to become a writer please let me knoe