“Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
This quote has been attributed to Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933). He was an author, educator and clergyman. Can you imagine a world where indeed only the birds with the best voices sang. We all have varying gifts and talents. While a peacock is a beautiful magnificent bird, it’s voice is horrible. You never heard such a racket. It can almost be frightening but yet the peacock is the National Bird of India. It has a place and makes a difference.
What talents do you possess? If you are like me, you can’t carry a tune. Or as Grandma would say – you can’t carry a tune in a water bucket. Evidently that meant people who had little or no singing or musical ability. Don’t let that stop you from trying. Regardless, we all have a voice.
It is the one thing that really sets our country apart from any other. We have the freedom to voice our opinions. According to legend and history, the Pilgrims came to America in search of religious freedom. They did. In fact they went to Holland first. When their children began speaking Dutch and had adopted the Dutch way of life, they knew it was time to set sail for yet another place. They came to the New World not only in search of religious freedom but that they might also voice what was on their minds and in their hearts. In England they couldn’t do that without the government making it hard for them. They were sorely limited in what they could say and do. While we often take our privileges for granted, wars have been fought to protect our freedoms. Give thankfulness a voice this Veteran’s Day.
What talents do you possess? Maybe you can breathe life into a song or make a piano talk or cause a garden to grow in a desert. Maybe you can take a crust of bread and some odd ingredients and make a dish fit for a king. Whatever it is, you can make our world a better place – just by being you and caring. You don’t have to be the best singer to sing but it sure makes a difference when you give it your best.
God speaks to the hearts of men today. His voice can be heard at the midnight hour, in a still small voice or in a mighty rushing wind. What do we need to do? Stop. Look. Listen. It’s only then that we can truly voice what’s in our hearts. If we are too busy clamoring about the way things are to listen to someone else’s viewpoint then you might just miss out on the really important things in life.
What am I trying to say? Have a voice, use it, care but don’t get so caught up with your own ideas that no one else’s matters. Whatever you do give it your best. This Thanksgiving give gratitude a voice.
Simply Sandy is written by Sandy Jarrell and appears the first Wednesday of each month.
Voices
Simply Sandy – find your voice
- Voices
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- Mr. Movie: Can magicians do all of that?
- Jody Terry: Community pitches in
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Larry Penkava: Deer me!
Deer are making themselves at home in Gopher Woods.
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Mr. Movie: Marilyn Monroe
The short, unhappy life of Norma Jean Baker, a/k/a Marilyn Monroe, has been well documented. She was married to Joe DiMaggio and to playwright Arthur Miller.
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Mr. Movie: Princess Grace Kelly
Hollywood has produced one real-life Princess in Grace Kelly.
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Larry Penkava: Ila Mae goes home
Ila Mae Williams can rest in peace.
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Larry Penkava: Asheboro in the spotlight
Asheboro’s Sunset (Avenue, not Boulevard) was the scene last Friday of cameras, sound booms, cables strung all over the streets and dozens of crew members acting like ants on a catered pizza slice dumped on the sidewalk.
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Larry Penkava: Group hugs available
Maybe what we all need is a big hug. Times are hard, don’tcha know. The economy stinks, we’re in a never-ending war and Lindsay Lohan is looking at jail time.
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Mr. Movie: Patricia Neal
Patricia Neal died at the good old age of 84. Experts said she should have been dead 40 years ago.
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Larry Penkava: Roaches as a miracle drug?
Where the roaches are when you really need them?
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