A little wisdom gained...

I can be a fairly harsh critic at times. I acknowledge my brashness, and tendency to lean towards brutal honesty. But one thing I am careful in handling, are the gifts that I recognize in others. My personal experience over the past months since my arrival home from Italy, besides adjustment, has been anguish over discovering (NOT deciding) what my inborn gifts are. Gifts normally arise when passions are aroused. I always had a knack for recognizing not talent in others but their giftedness. A young girl who attends my mother's daycare center was one of those, who's gift in art was immediately recognizable to me. Her creativity is something that will be known around the world someday. Her soul and mind continuously spill out ideas which she pours into the world through bleeding markers onto blank sheets of printer paper that are precious on a budget like ours. I noticed how quickly she went through the loose sheets of paper I let her have, and that she had limited art supplies. I was led later that week to purchase her a new hardcover sketchbook, markers, crayons, and coloring pencils.
I'm writing this not to emphasize how great of a person I am for buying these things, but to focus on my lesson in giving, encouraging, and investing in others. I wrote her a letter that I put in the front of her sketchbook, saying why I decided to gift her. This wasn't indicative of her being my pick, but to give her an outlet, and encouragement to continue following her dreams in a world that would sooner see them die than thrive. Dear reader I hope that if given the opportunity, you would do the same for someone else. I especially stress this to 20 somethings from minority backgrounds that work, or live in urban settings where children learn to curb their dreams at an early age; recognizing the obstacles in their social settings, schools, and home lives. You never know how far a small blessing can take them, or you for your giving. Invest in something positive for our youth. Encourage giftedness when you see it.