Your talents are God’s gifts to you; what you do with them are your gifts to God. These words are a wonderful invitation to take stock of our many gifts, relish them, develop them, and find ways to utilize them according to life’s changing circumstances.

To do this is not only our gift to God, but a gift to ourselves as well, because as the late psychologist Abraham Maslow put it, “If you set out to be less than your capable of, you won’t be happy.”

In one of her poems, Nikki Giovanni writes: “We are better than we think we are, and not quite where we want to be.” What she meant is that we’re better than we think we are, but not quite what we want to be or can be. We have more potential than we can imagine. Just to acknowledge this brings a peacefulness for future growth which Jesus will help you achieve.

Ms. Giovanni writes “the thought that we are better than we think isn’t about igniting arrogance, but instead building a wall of humble gratitude.” Saint Francis de Sales encourages us with these words. “Be who you are and be that well as a testament to the master craftsman who created you.” And Albert Einstein said, “The measure of our success in life is only limited by our imagination.”

Again, be grateful because gratitude is what energizes and motivates us to pursue our life’s purpose, our destiny. Whoever we are, whatever our circumstances, we can as Archbishop Romero once put it. “Do something and do it very well” Whether teaching a child to read, keeping them playing safe, or praying for their welfare or their future, we are called to this “very well.”   

When we show gratitude, we are ushering in the optimism that says we are capable of being more and better than we are today. We are not what we want to be – yet! But we can and we will be there one day soon.

All of us have been beaten down, disappointed or hurt by the wrongdoings of others. We stumble, fall, and sin through our own poor choices. However, grace, mercy, forgiveness, are our second chances to lift us up and move us forward. Even when we don’t have the strength, others will reach out to steady us.

With clarity of purpose and the courage of our convictions, we can embrace a great purpose, make good choices, and get good things done every day. Listen to this good advice Thomas Jefferson shares: “If you want something you never had, be prepared to do something you’ve never done.”

The greatest waste in our world is between who we are and who we could become! However, as soon as we are prepared to move forward on our journey, the Holy Spirit helps with reassurance and direction. The Holy Spirit always has one question for us: What took you so long to begin!