We are a former homeschooling family and recently while digging around in my attic I came across a stack of old Puzzlemania magazines. My oldest daughter loved doing the puzzles and problem solving exercises in them so I brought them down and put them in her room for her to find when she got home from work late that night.

When I finally had the chance to ask her if she saw them and what she thought of them, she reiterated how much she had enjoyed them, and sheepishly told me she remembered as a young girl putting them in her tote along with her pencils and markers, carrying them around, and pretending they were her work papers in her briefcase for her job.

You could tell by her body language and the way she said it that looking back now she felt really foolish for pretending that way.

Don’t we all have stories of feeling foolish for things we did when we were younger? I know I have many that are cringe-worthy!

But as a mother, I saw an opportunity to re-frame the memory for her:

Sweetheart, do you know why you put those magazines in your tote and carried them around like a briefcase for your imaginary job?

Because God created you with the “gift of administration.” You were operating within your God-given gifting.

David tells us in Psalm 139:13, speaking of God:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb
Psalm 139:13 NIV

God told Jeremiah that even before he was formed in his mother’s womb, God knew who he was and had already anointed him for the job he wanted him to do.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

SpiritualGiftsTest.com tells us:

The Greek word for the spiritual gift of administration is Kubernesis.  This is a unique term that refers to a shipmaster or captain. The literal meaning is “to steer,” or “to rule or govern.”  It carries the idea of someone who guides and directs a group of people toward a goal or destination.  We see variations of this word in verses like Acts 27:11, and Revelation 18:17.

With this gift the Holy Spirit enables certain Christians to organize, direct, and implement plans to lead others in the various ministries of the Church.  This gift is closely related to the gift of Leadership, but is more goal or task oriented and is also more concerned with details and organization.

See also I Corinthians 12:28, Titus 1:4-5.

(The link for this quote is here.)

God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives, and He equips us with the personality types we need to achieve it. Of course we all need character building and refining to become more balanced and Christ-like, but if you are a follower of Christ you are fearfully and wonderfully made!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Psalm 139:14 NIV

Everyone has value. Honor God by learning to see yourself the way He sees you.

And watch your self-talk. You can block God’s blessings in your life by negativity.

By the way, the daughter who loved Puzzlemania was promoted to Assistant Manager at age 19 at the store where she works! I think God’s giftings are shining through!

*Note: I didn’t explore it, but it looks as though you can download a spiritual gifts survey for free at SpiritualGiftsTest.com Check it out and see who you were created to be!