gifts & talents: a focus on the positive

 “What gifts and talents do you have that contribute to the success of the work you do?” 

​This is a question I asked my staff at a recent brainstorming session. Often times, in this competitive world, we tend to focus on the negatives. What needs improvement? How can we do better? How can we avoid this mistake again? Let me tell you – this can get exhausting! As staff members at New Beginnings, we are often forced to contend with tough situations and daunting tasks, but despite all of that, each of us brings a unique set of gifts and talents to the ministry. In other words, God placed us all in our positions for a reason.

​Because God has placed us in our positions, it is important to take some time to focus on the positive. Focus on what we do right. So, I asked everyone: “what gifts and talents do you have that contribute to the success of the work you do.” I was surprised to hear that some staff members had difficulty coming up with a list of gifts and talents that they possess. Ultimately, everyone gave a short list with the top gift being “a genuine care for others.”  (Whew! it seems like we are all in the right profession!) Some of the other gifts that we came up with were nurturing, ability to set boundaries, visionaries, and genuine. 

​I think this is a good list, but I see so much more: 

​In Christina, I see the ability to relate to others, someone who has compassion, a genuine desire to help, a drive to get her work done, the ability to communicate with the individuals we work with without crossing boundaries, someone who is timely and committed, and someone who everyone can count on. And for those who do not know, she has a sense of humor that is constantly lifting everyone up! 

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In Karen, I see the ability to witness about her Lord in a way that invites others to learn more, someone who is caring, someone who the mothers at New Beginnings value and trust, someone who is honest, someone who rarely complains and is always willing to step up, and someone who is calm and collected in even the toughest situations. 

In Taleya, I see someone who is detail-oriented, has an ability to relate and connect with others, someone who sets healthy boundaries and remains unshaken, someone who is creative and has vision, someone who everyone can count on, and someone who is committed and trustworthy. 

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I want to take a moment to commend the staff at New Beginnings for the good work they do. You all work together to create a phenomenal team with a unique set of gifts and talents. Thank you God for the blessings you have given all of us, and thank you Lord for the opportunity we have to serve others. Only through you can we do great things. 

 Take a moment to think about the unique gifts and talents the Lord has given YOU! Leave us a comment – we would love to learn more about your blessings. Let’s focus on the positive!

Brianne Hansen is the Executive Director at New Beginnings. She grew up in Marshall, WI and graduated from Lakeside Lutheran High School. Brianne has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UW-Milwaukee and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Industrial Organizational Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys singing, camping, spending time with her dog (Bella) and cats (Mufasa & Jasmine), and going on adventures with her husband, Daniel.  ​

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