Did you see me?

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6a

Not to sound immodest, but I believe I have never felt more beautiful in my life. I was five years old and, after months of lessons, was ready to perform in my first ballet recital. To everyone else, we were the beginners' class of Martha Galvin's Dance Studio, all decked out in our brand new tutus, loaded with sequins and nylon net ruffles. But we knew differently. We were really delicate flowers in a Japanese garden. All of those long, painful hours of obeying our instructor's voice, "plie ... jete... arabesque... and again." had prepared us for this one big night.

In the audience patiently sat my parents, enduring hours and hours of other people's children performing their dance routines. At long last, our little group of Japanese flowers was led on stage. And let me tell you: we plied, jeted, and arabesqued our little Japanese flower hearts out. We were in the zone. Our efforts were not lost on the audience; we were rewarded with thunderous applause. It's a fun memory.

Afterward, dozens of aspiring ballerinas each made a beeline to the most important people in the audience, their own moms and dads, crying out in one voice, "Did you see me?"

Now, as a mom myself, I think this might be my favorite part of the parent-child relationship. The parent gives a gift to delight the child. In turn, the child uses the gift to delight the parent. It never fails. Give him a new paint set and he'll create a masterpiece for your refrigerator. Give her ballet lessons and she'll dance just for you.

It is God's very nature to give. He delights in it. And when we, His children, use those gifts to serve and please Him, He delights in that as well. Are you using the gifts that He gave you to delight Him today?

Suzie Thomas