Emerging Courageous Online Magazine

Emerging Courageous Online Magazine - Stories

The Gift by Annettee Budzban

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is mercy, let him do it cheerfully." –– Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

    We all love gifts. Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, and surprise gifts from friends become personal treasures. God has given each of us even greater gifts. They are our Spiritual gifts. They are like buried treasures deep within us. If we keep digging long enough these gifts will be revealed to us.

     Many gifts, such as Christening, wedding, and graduation gifts, come to us at different seasons of our lives. It is the same with our Spiritual gifts. They too, come at different times of our lives. God, the giver of these gifts, is generous. We possess many gifts, but sometimes we await that special gift given by Him. I was patiently waiting . . .

     I was a nurse, a management leader, a childbirth instructor and a mother. Even though I didn't realize it at the time, I was multi-talented. Deep inside of me, however, I knew I needed something more. My life was about to change. Among those changes came "The Gift."

     I started to come down with Environmental Illness in late 1995. With time, my disease grew progressively worse. But, amidst this trying period of time, new and better things, like a wonderful marriage, entered my life. This was only one of the good things I would receive, however.

     At the onset of my illness I felt there was something that I wasn't aware of that I was meant to do. "I wish I knew what my gift is," I said to my husband and my best friend. They both told me that I was already talented and crazy to be asking the question.

     My best friend and fellow childbirth class teacher said, "You are a teacher." I replied by explaining that there is something more. I prayed, asking God to reveal my gift.

     As my illness progressed, the doctors were baffled. Eventually, I could no longer work. I was forced to give up my nursing career. When I lost my sister, and my father one week later, I wondered if I was next. I started feeling hopeless. I began getting deeper involved in prayer. In my heart, I sensed there was more.

     A new friend explained that she got up early, while it was quiet to pray and spend time in God's Word. He spoke to her there through His Word.

    That's what I need to do, I thought. I expected to hear from Him. I prayed and then I paused to listen for His voice or read my Bible.
      During my prayer time one morning I heard that soft gentle voice from within me whisper, "Write."

     "I don't know how to write," I said. But, as I listened, I heard the same message again. "Write."

      I responded with a request, "If you want me to write God, send me a typewriter at no cost to me." Within a month it came. I was given a word processor. But I wondered what I would write.

      Before long, I awoke with devotions in my head. One day, after I finished one of my favorite devotional writings, I felt a sense of elation and completeness over my new gift. I started praising God with words of thanks and joy, for my ability to write. I picked up my Bible and opened it. I came to a passage in Jeremiah which read, "How did you come to write all this? He dictated all these words to me and I wrote them in ink on the scroll." I was stunned! I realized that these were God's own personal messages, which I dutifully wrote like a secretary taking dictation from her boss. A new confidence was born in me, as I sat each day and faithfully wrote to help the souls of others with the divine messages given to me from within.

       I knew I needed to do something with these special writings. My husband gave me a package of angel stationary with matching envelopes. I sent my messages to friends. They loved them. Many stated they received the right message on the right day. They looked forward to finding those angel envelopes in their mailbox. My writing ministry was born. My husband named it, "Writings From the Heart."

     All these things happened a little more than two years ago. My ministry has grown through the word of friends. I send messages to people I don't even know. I have received gifts and unsolicited contributions for my writings.

    "Whom do you know in Iowa?" my husband asked me one day as he brought in the mail.

    "No one," I replied. I had received a letter from a lady whose son sent her my writings. She loved them. I felt a whole new life emerging from within me and around me.

     I now have a new book published and I write a weekly devotional column for two newspapers. These things happened because I listened to the voice of God and obeyed. Oftentimes I wonder, What else is ahead for me? For now, I happily send my messages to any and all who have a need.

    Mothering, teaching, and nursing were all gifts in their time, but I will always be grateful for the gift sent to me in my real time of need . . . Truly, "The Gift."

Annettee Budzban is an author, freelance writer, and religion columnist. She has the writing ministry Writings From the Heart. She is the Devotions Editor and a contributing writer for the Christian e-zine Eternal Ink. She has been published World-Wide on e-zines and magazines such as Guideposts Angels on Earth. He new devotional book When Heaven Whispers will be released soon. Her e-mail address is [email protected]

*****

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws