Images are property of Bethany Walter Photography, LLC

My daughter excitedly tore the tissue paper from her birthday presents, exclaiming over each gift when I heard a little huff behind me. I turned to see my other daughter standing behind me, arms crossed over her chest, bottom lip taut, she was visibly upset. “What’s wrong?” I wondered. She said, “That’s not fair! I didn’t get books for my birthday.”

I was embarrassed. Other people heard her. “We’ll talk about it later,” I said quietly, but she persisted. “It’s not fair! How come they didn’t get that for me?”

With one look and a sharp rebuke from me, she quieted. Later that evening we discussed her outburst and ungrateful attitude. “But mama,” her eyes filled with tears, “I’m the one who likes to read and I didn’t get any books for my birthday.”

My heart softened and I reached for her, pulling her into a hug. “Honey, don’t you remember what you received for your birthday?”

“Yes,” she said, then listed each gift she remembered opening.

“You were thrilled with your gifts at the time,” I said. “Daddy and I don’t buy you girls the same things. We carefully shop for you, taking into consideration your likes and interests, choosing the perfect gift just for you. Your gifts were perfect for you and graciously received until you saw what someone else had.”

As silly and immature as it may sound, don’t we adults do the same thing? God’s given us talents and gifts, carefully chosen just for us, and we’re fine with them. In fact, we LOVE them and are happy to use them for His glory until we realize someone else received a “better” gift. A more important spiritual gift. A “better” calling.

Maybe you were contentedly serving behind the scenes until your friend began teaching a new women’s class and suddenly you’re thinking of all the reasons you would be a better fit than her. Or maybe God has called you to lead a ministry but you didn’t realize the commitment it required and you’re exhausted, wishing you had the gift of faith or exhortation instead.

Don’t wish for someone else’s gifts and callings. God has specifically equipped you and called you to do His will in His time.

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. ^{1 Corinthians 12:4-11}

Don’t miss this. The Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. When we are ready for it. Each of us has a specific calling on our life and it’s important for us to embrace these God-given gifts, fulfilling our calling and not someone else’s. So when you start to feel jealous of someone else’s gifts, think again and remember you have been uniquely chosen for your own gifts. You are the only one who can fulfill the gifts you’ve been given by God.

You are chosen.

References: Ephesians 4:11-22, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11