Hidden Talents??

Throwback Thursday: I've been reading through some of my old journals lately and love reminiscing about the past and looking at how it has or hasn't affected who I am today. I decided that every Thursday I'm going to write a blog post about something in my past. Could be from when I was little or maybe it was just last year. I don't know, we're just going to try it and see how it goes. 

When I was in elementary school we had to write a poem about wishes for Language class. I recently came across the poem I wrote and couldn't help but chuckle.

 If I Had A Wish

If I had a wish then it would be that I had more wishes

one, two, three

The first one I'd use would be for others. 

For all abused children, I'd wish them kinder fathers and mothers

The second one would be for my family

My sister, my brother, my father and mother.

That we would grow closer in kindness and love,

So we can be together forever above.

The best wish of all I'd save until last.

All my friends and I to my house we will flock,

To hear a song being sung to me by 

New Kids on the Block!

I used to be SO obsessed with New Kids On The Block. I had NKOTB backpack, lunchbox, tons of albums, and even a doll that looked like the lead singer. They were the One Direction of my day and it makes me laugh to look back now at how crazy and obsessed I was over them. I can definitely say this was a stage I grew out of. 

Looking back on this poem though I realize how much I loved to write even at a young age. I was too busy being a kid to realize it, but the passion for writing was always there. When I was in second grade I submitted a writing piece for my school's Reflections contest. A contest where students are encouraged to use their creative talents to express themselves in an original piece of work. I don't think I really understood all of that when I was six, but I was encouraged by my teacher and my parents to participate, so I did. The theme that year was "I'm Proud To Be...". I wrote an essay on how proud I was to be the sister of a child with Down Syndrome. I honestly didn't think it was anything special when I submitted it to my teacher. Then came the shocking news that I had won in my category. I felt special and have kept that essay all these years. When I was young I had no idea how much writing would mean to me as I got older. I had no idea how this talent would play a role in my life. I also didn't realize how much this writing thing was a part of my life when I was a child until recently when I came across this poem and took time to sit and think about all the writing I did as a kid. I thought my love of writing started when I was in high school, but the more I think about it I realize that it started much earlier than that. 

God has given each of us gifts and talents. Some of us know exactly what those talents are and how to use them, others of us are still trying to figure it out. I know He has not left us alone in this search. If you are one who is still trying to figure out what your special talent is I encourage you to go read your patriarchal blessing, read through old journals, take an inventory of things you enjoy, and things you are naturally good at, and most importantly pray about it. I'm still trying to figure out what it is I'm supposed to be doing with my writing and how the Lord wants me to be using this talent. It is a life-long process, but there is joy in the journey as we discover more about ourselves and the amazing things we can do. 

Now, I'll leave you with a small piece of my old obsession.... :)