Stand Out Saturday: Talents

We all have talents.  Some talents take more practice and work to develop, like musical talents or having patience; but it will be worth the effort to develop and strengthen them.    I am grateful for the talents I feel I have been given.  I am grateful for opportunities to learn and strengthen these and other talents as well. 

Below I want to share some thoughts from a message given by Ronald A. Rasband as found here:  http://www.lds.org/pages/well-done-thou-good-and-faithful-servant?lang=eng&query=talent

 “...before you say in your minds: “I don’t have any talents,” or “I don’t know what my talents are,” let me share with you that everyone has been blessed with many marvelous capabilities and talents. One of the great objectives of our journey through mortality is to improve upon them. The Savior powerfully taught this lesson in His parable of the talents.”

“Sometimes we have a fear of using our talents. We use excuses such as “I know I can’t do that,” or “Someone else can do it much better than I,” or “Those listening to me, or watching me, will criticize and judge me.” 

“Every person comes to earth as a unique individual. Similar threads may run in families, but each of us has a tapestry all our own. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote: “Each person in this life is endowed with those talents and capacities which his pre-earth life entitle him to receive. Some by obedience to law acquired one talent and some another.”¹⁴

“The Lord made it clear that it is not good enough for us simply to return to Him the talents He has given us. We are to improve upon and add to our talents. He has promised that if we multiply our talents we will receive eternal joy.”

 I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who gave us talents to enrich life and help one another.  When I hear an encouraging word, see a beautiful painting or photo, hear an uplifting song, or feel the warmth from a knitted sweater, I know someone shared their talent to bless another.  Thank you to all who share talents to bless the lives of others.

Stand Out Saturday: Courage

“There are many forms of courage--

Blazing a new trail,

Taking an unpopular stand,

Stepping out in that moment of faith,

Laughter instead of tears for someone else’s sake,

Enduring physical, spiritual, and emotional anguish,

Holding on to God with trust instead of desperation,

Forgiving as we were forgiven.

Loving one another.

Asking for help to bear a burden.”

---Cathy Marie Hake author of “That Certain Spark”

I think she says it so beautifully.  There are many things we can think, say and do that will exhibit courage, some things may seem harder than others, but we truly stand out, even to just the person in the mirror, when we have courage.  The laughter instead of tears part I thought was a nice way to describe one kind of courage--the kind that allows us to laugh at ourselves, but also the kind that allows us to move forward despite the sorrow we or a loved one is feeling, and not just move forward, but move forward with joy.  And of course it takes great courage and strength to take a stand and do the right thing, bravo to all who have done so and continue to do so.  Enduring with patience takes great courage, as does forgiving when we feel offended/hurt.  So...have courage, continue to build your faith and strength, do what is right, be true and live with joy.

Note:  the above quote was in the beginning of the book in the author's remarks if I remember right.

Stand Out Saturday: Talents

“Seek earnestly to discover the talents the Lord has given you. The talents God has given us first become apparent in the interests we pursue. If you are wondering about your talents, make a list of the things you like to do. Include all the activities you enjoy from different dimensions of your life—spiritual, musical, dramatic, academic, athletic, and so on. Study and ponder your patriarchal blessing for insights and inspiration. Consult family members, trusted friends, teachers, and leaders; others often can see in us what we find difficult to see in ourselves.”  Elder Ronald A. Rasband “Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant”

I came across a wonderful story this week about a 9 year old boy in East L.A. who definitely stands out.  He built his own arcade out of cardboard, and named it “Caine’s Arcade”.  I watched the video that was on yahoo about him, such an uplifting and inspiring story!  He used his mind and his hands to create something fun for not only himself but also fun for others.

Besides sharing his talent by making something fun, he shows us once again that ordinary objects can have an extraordinary purpose--including something fun!  What a way to repurpose cardboard.  What a way to use his time in creating something that is enjoyable.  WOW!

The video was uplifting to see and shows that not all talents require formal training.  Sometimes all it takes is a goal and some good ole fashion elbow grease to accomplish something truly remarkable.

Stand Out Saturday: Work

I thought of sharing this picture as part of the Saturday School post, but thought it might have detracted from the wonderful quotes.  But either way, I think it is important to highlight that we each have been given different talents--I for one would never have thought of decorating a side of a building in this manner, but someone was creative and motivated enough to decide to use their talents and Stand Out!

These pictures come from a mission that I served for my church.  I was quite impressed with someone’s very unusual way of drawing attention to an otherwise bland area.  I wondered if it was to draw more attention to the business the, um, people were so eager to put their head through a wall to see, or if it was completely unrelated and just someone desiring to bring a little spontaneity to the lives of those going by.  Whatever the reason, what talent!

And so, we all have our own gifts and abilities.  Some of these gifts and talents come a little more naturally and quickly than others, while others take lots of learning and work to develop.  Some gifts and abilities are very visible (noticeable by others), others are more subtle (not so noticeable).  I am a strong believer that we should develop our talents and use them for good. Even the ones that don’t come easily to us or that aren’t as visible.  We ourselves will be blessed, but also others can be blessed through us developing and using our talents for uplifting and praiseworthy efforts.

Some great quotes from Gordon B. Hinckley about working to develop ourselves and our skills/talents, as found here:

“There is no substitute under the heavens for productive labor. It is the process by which dreams become realities. It is the process by which idle visions become dynamic achievements.

“Most of us are inherently lazy. We would rather play than work. We would rather loaf than work. A little play and a little loafing are good. But it is work that spells the difference in the life of a man or woman. It is stretching our minds and utilizing the skills of our hands that lift us from mediocrity. It is work that provides the food we eat, the clothing we wear, the homes in which we live. We cannot deny the need for work with skilled hands and educated minds if we are to grow and prosper individually and if our nation is to stand tall before the world (from Ensign, Aug. 1992, 4).”

“The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired.

“To you wonderful young men and women I send a charge to reach beyond the routine of your daily work to serve in the Church, in the community, in the society of which you are a part. Though your talents be meager, polish them. Increase your skills, extend your love to help those who need your lifting hand (from Ensign, June 1989, 74).

“I believe that I am a child of God, endowed with a divine birthright. I believe that there is something of divinity within me and within each of you. I believe that we have a godly inheritance and that it is our responsibility, our obligation, and our opportunity to cultivate and nurture the very best of these qualities within us.

“Though my work may be menial, though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness. My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others. I can be one who does his work with pride in that which comes from hand and mind. I can be one who works with respect for my associates, for their opinions, for their beliefs, with appreciation for their problems and with a desire to help them should they stumble. I believe in the principle that I can make a difference in this world. It may be ever so small. But it will count for the greater good (from Ensign, Aug. 1992, 7).

Thrifty Thursday again...: learning from others

There is so much information available on almost any topic.  It would take many lifetimes to go through it all, but alas, we need to carefully balance this lifetime with the things that are important.  But sometimes I do think it is worth the time to go through some of the information as it can help in day to day things.  Learning about saving money can help reduce stress.  Learning about organization can help save time, money and reduce stress too.  Learning new recipes can help revive dinner-time.  Learning to make things yourself can help confidence, lift the spirit (it feels so good to accomplish something!!!), have you ever cleaned something only to have it get messy again (within 5 minutes too!), but to make something that lasts at least a little while longer brings its own happiness.  Learning.  Learning is great, it is fun, it is worth it.  Of course, we need to balance it with all the other things our life demands.


I shared this quote before, but I love it so much I'm going to share it again (today must be an again day, as I keep sharing information again...).


"Work while you work, Play while you play; 
One thing each time, That is the way.
All that you do, Do with your might; 
Things done by halves, Are not done right."
McGuffey Eclectic Primer, revised edition, copyrights 1881, 1896, 1909, page 53.


So this morning I spent some time online...


And, I came across this site: http://www.funcheaporfree.com/.  Can I just say, I think this is a good site for Thrifty Thursday, the name says it all!  I haven't read everything on there, I did just discover it today after all, but what I have read I think is great advice for saving money.  I have a few websites/blogs that I visit often for ideas, recipes, etc., I think this will be added to that list.  I think the woman who put that site together has done a great job of sharing her joy and experience of saving money.  I realize some of what she says on her blog is stuff I have shared or do on my own already (experience is a great teacher), but I think she has done a good job of expressing it as well.  I did click on a few of the pages and saw some things I think I'd like to learn more about, but mostly I just kept hitting the older posts link and kept going back, back and back scanning the posts--I wanted to be sure it would be worth sharing this site of course, and the prognosis--yup, this site is a good site to learn how to save money.  I came across this site when I was visiting one of my other favorite websites:  http://www.dealstomeals.blogspot.com/ (a website I have used for recipes, mmm so good, and if I ever live out west, I'm sure I would use the dealstomeals service--a grocery saving service that I think based on what I've learned about it would be worth it for those living in the states is serves--its kind of what I've already done on my own for years, but since she does it for such a small monthly fee I'd turn it over to her--all about saving time and money!).

Anyway...  I think there are many people who have great ideas and experience to share.  I hope what little I share on this blog is helpful, as I find what others have shared helpful to me.  A long, long time ago I heard a quote, and I'm sorry I don't have a source for it, but here it is as I remember it:


"Wise people learn from experience.  
Wiser people learn from others' experience."


Kind of like touching a hot stove--I'd rather learn from someone else that it is better not to do that, but should I end up doing it, I would want to share my experience with others to help them decide whether or not they want to have the same experience.  This goes for both the painful as well as the joyful experiences.  I am glad we can learn from others and don't have to learn everything the hard way--on our own.