What You've Been Given

Anyone who teaches knows my very special guitar student. She isn't the star by any means. She wants to be, though, even with all her limitations: she was born with developmental impediments, and has many issues because of this factor. Plus she has a job, so there are time constraints and destractions galore. Not to mention she can be a little willful and doesn't always practice what I tell her to practice.

Even so, she is musically inclined. She can read music to sing, and can carry a tune. She picked up rhythm surprisingly fast, and when she nails a song, she can follow and accompany without drowning out the singer or musician. Plus her desire to learn is downright inspiring, and most of the time she does the best she can with what God gave her. Overall, I wish every one of my students had the kind heart that she has. She's really shown incredible improvement, and works hard to defy anyone and everyone who doubts her. And let me tell you, many people doubt her.

Yes, I'm very proud of her.

(A) man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two.

But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and ettled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'

(Then) the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.

For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Matthew 25:14-29

When you've been given much, it's easy to overcome those obstacles of fear and self-doubt; and when those who seem to have less see those with so much more, being intimidated is inevitable. My special student was only given one talent. What kind of teacher would I be if I didn't push her to invest that talent and make the most of it? After all, everyone has something to offer.