SHARE YOUR GIFT 🎁

The above picture is of the Reiman Cancer Center where I live. Sadly, I have had 3 people I know go through procedures there. It is a very tough thing to have to go through. I would imagine it is very tough on those who work there as well as the loved ones who accompany the patients as they undergo their procedure. Every time that I have been to this place, the people there could not have been any nicer. As you watch many other families struggling through illness, you wish there was something you could do. I think in many ways this is true of all of us at one point in time. I am here to tell you there is something you can do, and should do.

I wanted so much to help all of the families that were hurting as they were doing their best to navigate the journey cancer had taken them on. I wanted so much to repay all of the kindness the nurses and workers there showed. What could I do? I wasn’t rich. I wasn’t a doctor. I was simply an author. That is when it occurred to me. Share your gift. That is all we are supposed to do. Find that thing that is you and share it with everyone in a beneficial and loving manner. I noticed there were books at the stations for the patients, and those who were with them, to read as the chemotherapy took place. How about a nice book about reducing stress and finding joy? I inquired with one of the nurses if I could donate copies of my book. There were happy to accept. I gave them one to put at each station.

Sometimes sharing your gift is easy. Like the example above. They had books there, and I wrote a book. Sometimes you have to be more creative as to how you can use your gift. With money being tight all over, charities are feeling the pinch more than ever before. I wanted to do something to benefit my community, but I did not know how. Two of the causes that are near and dear to my heart are helping the victims of domestic violence and animals. I knew two local groups who did just that. I decided that I was going to hold a book signing event and donate 100% of the profits to these two charities. This is set to happen next month. Not only will it benefit the charities themselves, but I hope it will bring people together and galvanize them towards a greater cause. There will be more details coming soon on the event.

The point is, we are all given a gift. It is said with great reward come great responsibility. I believe that the reward of the gift we are given is the responsibility to use it is such a way that we can help others. Some are straight forward, like the book donation example. Some take a little more creativity, like the book signing idea. We all have a gift and we all have a responsibility to use that gift to help others. I would love to hear your inspiring story about yourself, or someone else, using their gift to help others.