Post by Rhonda on Nov 1, 2008 22:00:58 GMT -5
GIFTED FOR SOMETHING?
I heard of a woman who operated a daycare for children from her home.
As she transported children in her car one day, a fire truck zoomed
by. The kids were thrilled to see a Dalmatian on the front seat, just
like in the old-time stories.
They began a conversation about the duties of a "fire dog." One child
suggested that they use the dog to keep the crowds back. Another said
the Dalmatian is just for good luck. But young Jamie brought the
argument to an end when he said, "They use the dog to find the
hydrant!"
He reminds us that we all have useful abilities, if sniffing out fire
hydrants is a useful ability. Some of our skills are apparent. Some
are hidden. Some probably haven't even been discovered. Some can be
improved with work -- lots of mine fall into this category.
Madame Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (she won
two), said this about giftedness: "Life is not easy for any of us, but
what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in
ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that
this thing must be attained."
I like that. "We must believe that we are gifted for something." Do
you believe you are gifted for something? Do you know what that
"something" is?
American football's William Floyd probably thought his athletic
ability was his greatest gift. But then he injured his knee halfway
through his 1995 season with the San Francisco Forty-Niners. The
talented athlete was out for the rest of the season. It was then that
he found a gift he may not have known he possessed.
William Floyd still wanted to contribute and he did NOT want his self
pity to spill over to the rest of the team. So he stood on the
sidelines at every workout and in every game and encouraged his
teammates on. He shouted and cajoled; he motivated and consoled; he
became a dominating presence and a source of great inspiration for his
team. He had a remarkable ability for bringing out the best in others.
At the end of the year, his teammates voted him the player "who best
exemplifies inspirational and courageous play." As much as they needed
him on the field, they discovered how much they needed him on the
sidelines, urging them to do and to be their best. I wonder if his
newly-found life skill, his gift of positive motivation, could prove
more useful than even his athletic ability?
What if we believed we were "gifted for something"? What difference
would that make?
And what if we believed we should do something about it? What
difference would that make? What difference COULD that make?
I think a lot of life is about finding that out.
-- Steve Goodier
__________
P.S. CELEBRITY QUIP
There comes a time in the affairs of a man when he must take the bull
by the tail and face the situation. -- W. C. Fields
I heard of a woman who operated a daycare for children from her home.
As she transported children in her car one day, a fire truck zoomed
by. The kids were thrilled to see a Dalmatian on the front seat, just
like in the old-time stories.
They began a conversation about the duties of a "fire dog." One child
suggested that they use the dog to keep the crowds back. Another said
the Dalmatian is just for good luck. But young Jamie brought the
argument to an end when he said, "They use the dog to find the
hydrant!"
He reminds us that we all have useful abilities, if sniffing out fire
hydrants is a useful ability. Some of our skills are apparent. Some
are hidden. Some probably haven't even been discovered. Some can be
improved with work -- lots of mine fall into this category.
Madame Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (she won
two), said this about giftedness: "Life is not easy for any of us, but
what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in
ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that
this thing must be attained."
I like that. "We must believe that we are gifted for something." Do
you believe you are gifted for something? Do you know what that
"something" is?
American football's William Floyd probably thought his athletic
ability was his greatest gift. But then he injured his knee halfway
through his 1995 season with the San Francisco Forty-Niners. The
talented athlete was out for the rest of the season. It was then that
he found a gift he may not have known he possessed.
William Floyd still wanted to contribute and he did NOT want his self
pity to spill over to the rest of the team. So he stood on the
sidelines at every workout and in every game and encouraged his
teammates on. He shouted and cajoled; he motivated and consoled; he
became a dominating presence and a source of great inspiration for his
team. He had a remarkable ability for bringing out the best in others.
At the end of the year, his teammates voted him the player "who best
exemplifies inspirational and courageous play." As much as they needed
him on the field, they discovered how much they needed him on the
sidelines, urging them to do and to be their best. I wonder if his
newly-found life skill, his gift of positive motivation, could prove
more useful than even his athletic ability?
What if we believed we were "gifted for something"? What difference
would that make?
And what if we believed we should do something about it? What
difference would that make? What difference COULD that make?
I think a lot of life is about finding that out.
-- Steve Goodier
__________
P.S. CELEBRITY QUIP
There comes a time in the affairs of a man when he must take the bull
by the tail and face the situation. -- W. C. Fields