I have a four sisters, each with varied talents. Recently the sister closest to my age said she was not blessed with organization, that the second to the oldest got her share. I am here to tell you - She received mine too!!! Talents aren't passed around evenly with each of us receiving the same one or even the same amount.
And unto one he gave five talents,
to another two,
and to another one;
to every man according to his several ability;
and straightway took his journey.
Matthew 25:15
"To every man according to his several ablility"
Hmmm...several ability? Did you know that several doesn't just mean "a small number; though more than three"?
It also means various or seperate.
"To every man according to his (seperate....various)....ability."
Our Lord knows each of us and our seperate abilities. He gives talents to each of us according to what he knows we need in order to face the challenges in our lives. Sometimes we think of just the physical talents, those that are visual like art, music, etc. I know those are important to the developing of our brains, add beautification to the world, and helps us feel and express the Spirit. I also know the gifts of the Spirit are just as important for us to develop.
I wonder if I can put that back into my sisters. The lists will be general and there is no way I can mention every talent and gift, but I hope to pull it back together with a few examples.
The oldest is a gifted musician, (granted she worked hard for it!) She also has the gift of leadership, motherhood, and hard work.
Number two is the one blessed with the organization skills. She really is amazing, but I know she has worked to develop this talent also. She also can make friends anywhere, and when she has made them, she is a true friend herself.
Number three is artistic and creative. She is gifted with her hands and shares her gifts with her family, neighbors and ward. She is devoted to all she believes in and her testimony is unwavering.
Number four has a beautiful singing voice. She is intuitive and when she gives her heart, she gives it completely.
Each sister has been given talents. They aren't the same, but they enrich their own lives and the lives of those they love and come in contact with. I have seen how these and other talents have helped them through trials, and enhanced their lives during times of peace. I believe they were hand chosen.
The same is true for my own children. Each of you have been blessed with talents according to your several ability. They are meant to be developed and shared.
All of us are endowed with abundant talent, beauty, and ability. Our lack of productivity can never be blamed on a lack of raw material. Elder Richard L. Evans (1906–71) once wrote:
“We know of no one in life who isn’t an Important Person. We know of no man on the street (or in the gutter, for that matter) who isn’t a child of God with the same rights and with the same relationship to his Father in heaven as all the rest of us have.
“We know of no one, young or old, from infants to elderly individuals, whose past or whose potential we would want to appraise as being unimportant. We know of no one we might see in any public place—on subways or busses, or walking in shabby shoes—or any boy selling papers … who doesn’t have an inestimable, unknown potential, here and hereafter.”
