Yesterday something beautiful happened. This year I’ve been teaching youth Bible study to these wonderful kids. In our class we had this one child who was very quiet and soft-spoken. She is an engaged, active learner, but an observer and listener more than a talker.

Sometimes when we are doing crafts, my co-teacher, Rebecca, and I will put in music. One day this year we put on this song, Goodness of God, and out of nowhere we heard this voice singing along with a rich confidence. We turned to see who it was…

And it was the soft-spoken child.

Rebecca and I looked at each other discreetly, amazed at what we were hearing but didn’t want to draw attention and make the child uncomfortable.

At the end of each year, we have a sharing day and the kids share with the adults what they’ve learned this year. We had planned small skits for the class and then we had an idea.

What if this quiet child led the group singing that song at the end of the performance?

We weren’t sure how she’d react when we asked. Yet her face said it all.

She lit up at the idea!

And yesterday, in front of over a hundred people, this little girl, who is as quiet as a mouse, used the beautiful voice she’s been given, and sang her heart out, leading the group in song.

Tears filled eyes and joy filled our hearts as we watched God in action through this child.

I share this with you today because just as God gave this girl a beautiful voice that needs to be heard, He too gave us gifts and skills. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we not neglect the gift that is in us. (1 Timothy 4:14) May God reveal to us what those gifts and skills are, maybe by placing people beside us who will help us see what our gifts are. May we take a step of faith towards using them, as this sweet soul stepped into hers yesterday. As when we do, not only will our hearts be full, but the lives we touch will be full too, as we experienced yesterday.

With love and hope,
Shawn