What is your Gift

Eleanor Stevens on the left on her horse, J R. On the right is Mary Lipginski (me) on Rockin Andi.

This picture was taken shortly after Eleanor received her horse J R as a gift from H T.

Tonight I am going to give you some food for thought. If you are so inclined to think as you read my blog. Maybe you read my blog for entertainment and don't really want to think. My daughter Mary Beth reads it for information. She wants to know what Mom is up to these days. (Like I never talk to her). But tonight I want to give you some food for thought.

H T Derickson is one of the most generous people I know. Eleanor and I have been going to the Van Bert Farm for over two years. She immediately fell in love with the Rocky Mountain Horses. She was attracted to their beauty and good natures. She also liked the way they move. My how we wished we had these horses when we were growing up.

She has often spoken of the old work mare she liked to ride. We called her "Old Grace". I don't know why it was old Grace but it just was. Perhaps it was because she seemed so old when she came in from a hard days work. She didn't have the easy life of standing in a stall and being led out to ride and then put away until another day came. She worked long hard hours pulling the various pieces of equipment around our farm back in the 30s and 40s. We had tractors by the late 40s but there was still dependence on the horses and mules.

But I was talking about gifts. And that was off subject but still related. Eleanor loved riding Grace and she still talks about what a good loving friend Grace was to her. Even then little girls told horses their worries, heart aches and dreams as well as talking to them about their everyday events and accomplishments.

So she just naturally fell in love with Mt Horses. I remember the day she first rode a horse at Van Berts. Larry and I worried she would fall or get hurt some way. She wasn't worried. She rode a horse named Yankee Dock. He is several years old and really calm. So she rode him around the barn and she was walking on air. We made pictures and stopped at Walmart to have them printed so she would have a lasting record of her first ride in 50 years.

The next horse she rode was Rose's Morning Glory. She is owned by Crystal Gate Farms in Vermont. H T made sure she got to ride that horse and again she was thrilled beyond comprehension. More pictures to take to church and show friends and acquaintences.

During the Rocky Mountain show in September H T told Eleanor he had something for her. I didn't know what it was so I thought perhaps a tee shirt with their logo or a cap. Little did I know. The next visit to the farm, Eleanor was hoping to ride Morning Glory again. She was told she wasn't available to ride that day. I was riding Rockin Andi around the barn when Jamie came out on a red gelding. I asked who that horse was. I always want to know even though I might ask again in the next five minutes. Jamie said it was J R.

Soon Eleanor was on J R riding him. She was told she could ride that horse that day. I got off of Andi and let someone else ride her. H T asked he how she liked that J R horse. She agreed he was pretty nice and she liked him a lot. H T told her that he was hers. He had found and bought that horse for her. At that point I had tears in my eyes. It was such a generous thing for him to do.

Since first getting to know H T, Wilda and everyone at Van Berts I have noticed this about H T. He is a very generous person. But he is not just generous, he has a gift of giving. This is his particular gift.

We all have a gift. If you know Eleanor, you know she has a gift for teaching. She taught school for 26 years and she still likes to teach today. She does not stand in the class room with a room full of children anymore but she still teaches. She teaches her Sunday School class sometimes. She teaches piano. She will teach as we ride along the highway to any and all who will listen.

Are you getting any idea about gifts and how you are gifted? If you will think about yourself, you will see that you have a gift too. What is your gift? My daughter-in-law, Chrissy has the gift of service. She visits me and takes over my kitchen. I am all too willing. She cooks and she cleans. She puts wonderful tasty meals on the table and then cleans the kitchen afterward. She loves doing it. It makes her feel fulfilled to serve people. I love her for it. I cherish her for her gift of service. She is a nursing student now and she will be very good nurse. Chrissy serves her husband and her family. It is her expression of love to them. Or as some people would call it, her love language.

To better understand and love the people around you, especially your family, you need to understand your gift and their gifts. We don't all have the same gift. Some just don't understand or participate in the gift of service. Those having a gift of service don't understand those who don't. But if you will look and think about their gift you will see they have a gift you don't.

Steve, Chrissy's husband has a gift of leadership. He is the take charge and lead the troops kind of person. Take charge and lead the family. If you know Steve, you will know how true that is. It is often a misunderstood and resented gift. Leaders have to make some tough decisions in family and in business or their area of work. It is not an easy gift. H T's gift of giving or Chrissy's gift of service is much easier to accept and understand.

Again what is your gift. What is your mate's gift? What gift do those that surround you have? If you know me very well, can you tell what my gift is? How about my brother, Bob? His is not an easily recognized gift like the gift of giving or of service. His is the gift of discernment. Can you see that now?

What is your gift?

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care and may you come to know and cherish your own gift.

Regards

Mary

Now ye are the bodies of Christ; and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church first apostles secondarily prophets thirdly teacher after that miracle then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets are all teachers? are all workers of miracles. Have all the gift of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret.

I Corinthians 12:27-30