Just a Squab?

This little fledgling, squab or squeaker as it is called, is a little baby pigeon.  I marveled at being there around the time this egg hatched.  There were actually two eggs initially, and I believe one was stolen by a predator. The mother pigeon had built this nest in the corner of the balcony at my brother-in-law's apartment which is on the 6th floor. 

It is one thing to see an egg in a nest, but it is another to see a little baby bird emerge. This little squab represents life and is a reminder of how little I once was and how much I have grown, succeeded and accomplished in life over the years.  If this little bird can be so important that it is according to God's plan to be born and be part of nature around us, how much more important I must be, to be made in the image and likeness of God...  to be given gifts and talents, knowledge and wisdom and a heart to love and discern.  Yet, do I realize the magnitude of the gift called 'life' given to me?  

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that you may have life and have it abundantly. 

(John 10:10)

Talents

Each of us is born with talents.  We may not necessarily turn out to be toppers in school or a genius at things we do.  We may never be in the limelight for some great feat or accomplishment.  Nevertheless, each of us have some innate talents that make up who we are.  Why I use the word 'talents' is because it is a group or combination of talents that allows us to be who we are. For example, I smile.  Yes, I smile a lot and when people see me smile, they smile too.  This is a gift; a talent, that makes people happy.  Similar with our other traits of prayer, work, meeting deadlines, organizing time at work... and so on.  I see 'time management' as one great talent in today's hectic life-style. Many times it isn't until much later in our lives that we realize that we have a particular talent.

Today I take the time to thank the Lord for all the talents He has given me.  I thank Him for creating me with a combination of gifts that helps me grow as a person and help others too around me. I thank Him for also creating avenues for these talents by which I can express myself and also praise Him. I thank Him that my talents are not necessarily the same as others and that I can learn from others too, and also for means by which I can use these talents to sustain myself. Praise God for these talents, for it tells me that I have been given a part of God's immense nature which connects me to Him.  Help me Lord to identify the talents you have given me so that I can be the person You want me to be.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

(Romans 12:6-8)

Image Credit: Blonde Girl Performing