Do you remember having “show and tell” in elementary school? It was one of my favorite parts of school as a child. I couldn’t wait to hear about all the things that meant so much to my classmates, and then share myself. Oftentimes, we brought our favorite toys, stuffed animals, or special gifts. And it was a big deal.
In the same way, I think inspiration that makes us better becomes a big deal. And it becomes such a big deal that we want others to know about it or see the fruits of it. We want them to know how it challenged us, how it changed us.
And we want to pay it forward.
The Reverend Billy Graham once said, “God has given us two hands–one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing.”
I believe that wholeheartedly.
Sure, we can give of our time and money and other tangible items. But I don’t think giving is limited to that. The gifts and talents we’re inspired to use, the knowledge and wisdom we gain when we’re inspired to seek–they’re also meant to be shared.
And I’ve found four ways to do that, that not only enriches our lives, but glorify God and have the potential to inspire others.
1. Give a Testimony
We all have a story to tell, and yours could inspire or help someone else. However, you don’t have to be speaking to large crowds to do that. You can talk to one person and still make a difference.
2. Serve Others
We all have skills that can be used to serve others, and the opportunities are endless. You can take on projects that help those in need or even making small gestures of kindness that love and nurture those around you.
3. Teach Others
When a moment of inspiration teaches us something, there is always someone else who could learn from our experience or be encouraged by it. If you don’t want to teach in the traditional sense, you can become someone’s mentor or a sounding board as they go through an experience you’ve had in the past.
4. Release Your Work Into the World
When we’re inspired to use our gifts and talents to do something, we never know how it could touch someone’s life or inspire them–if we don’t share it.
I’ve seen people go on to do beautiful things with the art they created or the wisdom they gained as a result of one inspiring moment. And it doesn’t take much–just a willing heart, and the desire to help, encourage, or inspire someone else.
Have you ever done any of these things to share the fruit of something that inspired you? Is there anything else you would add to this list?
This is Day 21 of the series, 31 Days of Inspired Living. Join me through the month of October as I write about what I think it looks like to find the inspiration that makes us better. I’ll also offer some encouragement for your journey. In case you missed a day, you can find previous posts in the series here.
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