That’s What Grace Is For

17 Jan

“Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.”
Robert Louis Stevenson

Success.  That is the goal that we set for ourselves.  Success.  And, perhaps, a bit of fame.  Success, a bit of fame, and, perhaps, fortune.  Success, fame, and fortune.  Yeah.  That’s the ticket.

However, there are more people who do not make their desired goal than those who do.  There are many who are not wildly successful, famous, and rich.  But, most people still struggle for that “one big break” that will give them everything that they crave.

What we really need to learn, Stevenson would say, is to play the hand that is given to us.  We may not have the ability to be rich and famous.  We may not have the gifts to be popular and well known.  That does not mean that we cannot be happy.  If we do the best that we can with the talents that God has given to us, we will be able to find happiness.

I often think about the Gospel parables of the talents.  In each version, people are given different amounts of talents.  I used to think, “Why didn’t everyone get the exact same amount?”  I realized, after a long time, that God gave them the talents that they would be able to utilize.  We are not all the same.  Each of us are different and, therefore, will use talents differently.

But, the fact of the matter is, God does give everyone something.  The talents you and I have are different, yet each of us can and should be fulfilled.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit are poured into each of us differently, yet, when we utilize them to the best of our abilities, we build up the Body of Christ, the Church.

Just because we cannot be as multi-talented and famous as others does not mean that we have been left deprived.  Our job is to identify the talents that God has given to us and use them to the best of our abilities and not worry about what someone else has.

FAITH ACTION:  Ask God for the grace to accept the talents you have been given this day.