Welcome to The Blogging A-Z Challenge April 2012! Some of the most popular posts here at The Shellshank Redemption are the Motivational Mondays. So, after consulting the tortoises, we decided to make April our Motivational Month! Please join us for this (almost!) daily dose of alphabetical inspiration. We hope you enjoy it!
* WHEN I STAND BEFORE GOD AT THE END OF MY LIFE, I WOULD HOPE THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE A SINGLE BIT OF TALENT LEFT, AND COULD SAY, “I USED EVERYTHING YOU GAVE ME.” (Erma Bombeck) *
I believe that everyone has a gift or two. It can be anything and everything - writing, photography, cooking, being a wonderful parent or nurse or teacher or volunteer, playing an instrument, having a great sense of humor, being that shoulder to cry on, being incredibly organized, being a leader or a team player, dancing, swimming, doing magic tricks… You get the idea.
Our job, our purpose, is to open that present, that box, hold up the gift inside and say, “Yes, this is perfect, thank you!” and then use it, use it up, until it’s as shabby and worn and well-loved as a favorite teddy bear or stuffed hippo.
That beats a Thank You card any day.
That quote is fantastic. Shabby and worn is such a lovely, warm image!
ReplyDeletewhich would you rather be...
ReplyDeletegood at lots of things?
or great at one thing?
tough choice!
I love that Erma Bombeck quote. It's one of the ones I have on my blog too! Nice post for the letter T.
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa - thank you!
ReplyDeleteTara - I'd have to think on that one...
Julie D - it really is a great quote. :)
I'm glad you don't actually use talent up :)
ReplyDeleteSharing gifts with the world, no matter what they are is what makes them worth having. Otherwise, it's just unrealized talent. Utilizing ones gift makes the world go round :)
ReplyDelete~Nicole
Blog: The Madlab Post
*Rockin' the A to Z Challenge!*
@MadlabPost on Twitter
Angela - I think the idea is to wring every bit of talent out of yourself so, at the end of your life, you don't regret not using it. :)
ReplyDeleteNicole - absolutely! :)
Another new quote for me, I love it. I have so many favorite quotes already, and you just keep giving me new ones to add. Great motivational post as always. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great motivational post...for my son who says he has none, but then we reel off an entire list of things he's good at, but he wants to be good at the 'cool' things, you know what society deems 'cool'...but he has so many gfts!
ReplyDeletegreat 't' post...
Julie - I'm happy to oblige. :)
ReplyDeleteTracy - it's hard when you're young to see how amazing you truly are. I bet he'll appreciate all of his talents when he gets older - and so will everyone else. What's "cool" now isn't always what's "cool" later on... :)
I always told our lovelies to make sure they used their talents so they wouldn't fade away and that, if they did use those talents given specially to them, the talents would get bigger and better til the end of time! They believed me and all are using their talents! Great post!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you stopped by and shared your "T" with me. Yes, talent was a good one :) I love your quote! I pray that God is pleased with my use of the talent he gave me!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Bj
Empty Nester - well done! hope you tell yourself that, too. :)
ReplyDeleteJoy/Bj - thank you! So glad you stopped by. :)
It would be a shame to squander what you're good at. Great reminder to make the most of it!
ReplyDeleteGreat quote! Using talent only makes it bigger and better.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you mentioning a stuffed hippo made me laugh because I have a stuffed hippo character in my A to Z Challenge story. :)
Nick - I think we all need a reminder of this sometimes. :)
ReplyDeleteChristine - who couldn't use a stuffed hippo in their life?! :)