We walk our grandchildren to school once a week. They each have their unique approach to this activity. The nine-year-old boy would like to get to the destination as fast as possible and has to be reined in so as not to outwalk his sisters (and grandparents). The eleven-year-old has music playing in her head. I can tell by the way her feet tend to make walking into dancing. The youngest, who is only six, appreciates the journey. She looks around and picks flowers or collects rocks. She will be the first to notice a fallen branch. She finds wonder in everything she sees. She is also the most talkative and chatters all the way to school whereas the older two are deep in their own private worlds. They are all so different.
Because of their different ages and different personalities we will get them different Christmas presents. No one-size-fits-all will apply.
God treats us exactly the same way. He knows our natural inclinations, our personalities, our preferences. After all, He made us unique. It is therefore not appropriate to look at other Christian’s callings, gifts or answers to prayer and wish they were ours. Our Father knows exactly what we need and how we can best serve Him.
“Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift… He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church… fully alive in Christ.” (Ephesisans 4: selections from verses 7 – 13. the Message)
Let us rejoice in our uniqueness and celebrate the different gifts we have been given. We are all different pieces of the same jigsaw puzzle, unique in shape even though our colouring may be similar to other pieces. We cannot fit in anybody else’s place and nobody can take our place.
Viva la difference!
