If You Could See What I See

One of my spiritual gifts is the ability to see the talents and giftedness of others. I was a very small child when I began using it, quite unconsciously. I'm pretty sure I tapped into it because I'm also empathic. When someone is sad and hurting, bringing up things they are good at helps them to focus on the positive.

When I look at people, I can usually pick up on what their gifts are pretty quickly. Upon spending a little more time with them I can also pick up on potential gifts or gifts that can be developed to be really outstanding. It has made me something of a cheerleader, but I can also usually come up with ideas to help the person make use of those gifts.

The types of gifts people have are endless and often unseen. Many gifts get taken for granted because they don't appear to be abilities society values. If they can't make you money they aren't worth much is sort of the underlying principle here. For example, people with a gift for hospitality often take that gift for granted. They are great at taking care of others, seeing their needs are met, making them feel welcome, etc. One can channel such a talent into a moneymaking career (such as in the hotel industry), but many times people with such gifts flounder in life because they don't know how to put their gifts into practice in practical ways.

One of the coolest things about being able to see the gifts in others is when you come across a person society believes has no value. For example, in my retail job I occasionally see people who are severely handicapped--people who are in wheelchairs and can do nothing on their own. Often I am drawn to these people because they have extremely powerful spirits. I would call such giftedness presence. Not only is there very powerful love emanating from these individuals, but I am often made to understand this disability is present in order to help their caregivers. Sometimes it is to help the caregiver find their talents in healing or another area. Sometimes it is to help the caregiver stay away from poor lifestyle choices. The reasons vary, but the contributions these people make are much more significant than society understands.

If you could see what I see when I look at you, you would know how truly magnificent you are! You would understand there is no one else in the whole world that could take your place--no one else who can do exactly what you can do. If you were not here, there would be an empty spot in the Universe. Know your gifts and talents are needed to help heal this planet. Understand your value is great and you are loved infinitely by the great I AM!

~CSE

  

On Finding Love

I was very broken when my first marriage ended. I invested everything I had in that relationship, and somehow it was still not enough. In the end I felt like a shell of my former self, empty and lifeless. It took several long months before I could appreciate my giving nature enough to realize that I deserved to receive as well. At that point I began looking for a relationship that was more worthy of me. It took over ten years to find it.

I made some interesting discoveries along the way. While I met and went out with a lot of people, there were only two besides my current husband that I really had any sort of relationship with. It took about two months with each of them before I realized they were not what I was looking for.

With my first husband, I felt like I knew him from the very first date (at this point I definitely believe I did know him before). We meshed from the beginning, and I felt extremely comfortable with him. At the time I thought being comfortable was a good thing--like that meant we were supposed to be together. What I now understand is that we were vibrating at a similar frequency, but that wasn't necessarily a good frequency for either one of us to be in or aspire to.

The first brief relationship I encountered during my days as a single mom began really well. He was intelligent and very handsome, successful and ambitious. He believed in working hard and playing hard. He had the money to treat me to dinner at nice restaurants and concerts, and we had fun together. This man had many of the characteristics I believed I wanted in a relationship. He was also proud and perfectionistic with very little sense of humor, and expected to be doted on. I never got around to introducing him to my kids because on some level I really didn't think he could handle them. It dawned on me after spending two months with him that he treated me much like my ex-husband had. When I realized that, I broke off the relationship.

The second relationship seemed a little more promising initially. He asked for my input, had a wonderful sense of humor and even was a good father to his own son. After a while though, I began catching him hiding important details (also something that had happened with my ex). Again, I realized the relationship was not where I needed it to be, so I broke things off.

I appreciate both men and the opportunities I had to explore these relationships. Even though they did not work out in the long run, both taught me things about myself I needed to know. Both taught me things I needed to look for in a healthy relationship. In those respects, these relationships helped heal some of what was broken in me, and I am truly and profoundly grateful.

My relationship with my current husband actually did not begin all that well. Before we began dating, I knew he was a kind and strong person that I admired. What I didn't anticipate was how strange it would feel to be treated well. Because I was not used to it, I initially pushed it away because it made me uncomfortable!!! Fortunately, I was able to analyze my discomfort enough to recognize what was causing it. I forced myself to live through the initial discomfort until I was used to being treated this way.

With everything I've learned, the most important is this: we receive the treatment we believe we deserve. If you find yourself being used and abused by others, understand there are underlying self esteem issues. At that point, it is important to look at yourself with new eyes. Focus on your good qualities and ask yourself if you are receiving back what you give out. When you begin to appreciate and understand your own value, so will everyone else.

Love is always out there for us if we are willing to step out and demand something more!

~CSE