December 25. Do NOT Open That. Seriously?

An attitude of excellence might include the belief that everyone has special gifts or a special set of aptitudes. As a leader, what are yours? A powerful exercise can be to reflect on what it is that you do that seems to come easy for you.

We can ask what seems natural for you to do and give you energy when you do it. If the leader of a family or organization has not done this exercise for themselves it might be likely that the people of the organization have not done it either.

That sounds like an organization that has a huge untapped resource to me. Do you have an inventory or list of special gifts for your team? Think about it for a minute. Consider thinking about three gifts that you do that give you energy.

Does it give you energy just thinking about these activities? I suspect that it might put you in a mindset that is empowering and positive. If that is true, how do you think the exercise might make your team feel? It is liberating at some level to recognize that we have been created with unique gifts.

How often do you as a leader adjust your attitude to seek out unique abilities of team members? What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we have been given special spiritual gifts by God. We were created in the image of God. This combination makes each one of us unique.

We read, “God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.” Daniel‬ 1:17‬ NLT‬‬.

But a special gift sealed up and stored away serves no one. Imagine an anniversary, birthday, or Christmas celebration where gifts are presented and then put in the attic unwrapped. As the presenter of that gift, would you feel unappreciated and shorted somehow?

Does a gift that is unwrapped really seem like a gift if it is unopened? It seems like the gift is incomplete if it stays in the package. What are your spiritual gifts and how are you using them? It may be that you have never been through a spiritual gifts inventory project.

If that is true, then we will consider it a gift to let you know that there are classes and projects that are designed to help you discover them. Doing these exercises can be just like unwrapping a gift. A focus on these gifts is likely to be more rewarding than another necktie or fruitcake.

Maybe the most important gifts of this holiday season are the ones that are God given and are waiting to be opened by our hearts and minds. Instead of presents under a tree, or gifts given for a birthday, can we adjust our attitude to look for our spiritual gifts?

What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, you are the Creator. You have given us one another, love, spiritual gifts, and aptitudes. Open our eyes so that we might see these gifts. Inspire curiosity in us so that we might seek to know them. When found, grant us the courage and confidence to use them in honor of your holy name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen‬‬,‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Mark Queen
Founder Core Score, LLC.
Navigator for entrepreneurs
Coach for Business Tribes