Talent
Proverbs 18:16 Kjv A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Gifts. Things you’re good at. Things that come easy to you. Something you would do for free. These are all your talents. What are you doing with your talent? Are you honing your skill? Are you burying your gift? The Bible says, “your gift will make room for you.” So, let it. Walk in it. Put it on full display for the world to see. Give it away. Make someone pay for it. Just use it, before you lose it.
Buried Treasure
The Alchemist is one of my favorite books. The main character goes on a journey to find some buried treasure. In the end, he does find it, just not where he thought it would be. Many of us look for treasure where it can’t be found. Many of us bury the gifts and talents that God has given us. We do not take full advantage of all the opportunities that are given to us. Maximize today. Maximize every day, and every opportunity. Dig up those talents and gifts. Brush them off and give them a second try. I implore you to not die a buried treasure.
Talented
Talent is described as natural skill or aptitude. What do you do well? Can you cook? Can you bake? Can you build? Can you write? Can you draw? Are you good at connecting people? Rediscover your talent. Rediscover your passion. Rediscover your purpose. Revisit your vision. Rewrite the vision. Invest in you. You are talented!
Opportunity Knocks
Most of us are prepared when opportunity knocks. I've always heard people say, "you don't have to get ready if you stay ready." If we are actively preparing ourselves for what's next, we welcome opportunities to grow and improve ourselves. What if you find yourself unprepared? You've got to start somewhere. Chalk it up as a missed opportunity and learn from your mistakes. What can you do today to better yourself? Take a class. Learn that new language. Update your resume. Do something. Prepare. Opportunity is knocking.
Jewels
I grew up in barbershops and salons. In the African American community, this is where uncensored conversations about sex, money, politics, current events and religion occurred. As a child, I knew better than to join the conversation, but I did learn how to listen and digest what I was hearing. I learned to see things from a variety of perspectives whether I agreed or not. I learned about consequences from foolish behavior. I learned about successes from hard work. I learned that relationships are complicated. I learned that marriage takes work. I learned what men want and what women desire.
I learned to respect these "jewels" that were given. I learned that everything did not have to be experienced, and that I could learn vicariously. These men and women gave me "jewels" I still carry. They gave me wisdom and insight. I thank God for all the lessons and all the love given to this "young buck." I thank God for the men who stood in the place of my father and all the "mothers" who raised me.
I was blessed to have a host of strong women around me. My grandmother dropped domestic jewels and was my first example of a wife and mother. My mother is an enduring example of strength and perseverance. My godmother is an example of what fortitude looks like and one of my earliest examples of what it meant to truly blend a family. I have a host of mentors, "aunties", play cousins and friends who constantly shower me with "jewels" from their joy, their pain, and their triumphs.
Thank you for your time, your tenth, and your talent. Thank you for showing me that marriage and motherhood doesn't look the same for everyone. Thank you for your jewels. Happy Mother's Day.
Gifted
I was introduced to Nina Simone at a young age. I loved her raspy voice. I loved how she sang her politics and called it all jazz. I loved how this unapologetically big nosed black woman was able to leave us feeling good, spellbound, all while telling stories about four women and strange fruit. She was one of the first to tell me that I was young, gifted, and black. I learned that my youth was a gift. I learned that my blackness was a gift. I learned that my ability to write and express myself poetically was a gift.
Your intellect, your sense of humor, your business acumen are all a gift. Be unapologetically who you are because you are a gift. You are gifted. You are blessed. You are a blessing. To truly be young, black, and gifted is to recognize that you are the gift. Your complexion, your hair, your smile, your hips, your thighs, your nose and your eyes are a gift. Your sincerity, your peace, your joy, your faith, your heart, your spirit are a gift. You are gifted! Your talents, your treasure, your pain and your pleasure are a gift. Your desire, your dreams, your plans and your purpose are a gift. You are gifted.
Fruitful
"But life at its best is a creative synthesis of opposites in fruitful harmony."-MLK
What does fruitful harmony among opposites look like? Is it the "American Dream" of a melting pot? Is it religious and political freedoms? Is it gun control? Is it stricter immigration laws? Is it police reform? Is it bridging the wealth gap?
MLK was assassinated 50 years ago, and I can't help but think that his America mirrors mine with very little progress. Yes, we have had some significant historical accomplishments, but we've suffered major setbacks. What does America's fruit look like? Have strange fruit on Southern trees become bullet-riddled bodies in backyards? Have we been fruitful or are we like cursed fig trees that bear no fruit? Have we been fruitful with our passions and dreams or have we buried our time, our tenth, and our talent? Have we been fruitful or are we barren?