The first hint of what would become my life's avocation and gift to this
world came the night I wrote a note to my Mom and Dad. I was a young
teenager and it was the first time I had ever written something that
wasn't a school assignment. That night I just felt a stirring in my
heart to let Mom and Dad know how much I loved them, how much they meant
to me, and how grateful I was to them for all they had given me. Being
too shy to say these things face to face, though, I wrote them down in a
note for my parents to find after I went to bed.
Later that night
I heard a gentle knocking at my door. Sleepily, I walked over to it and
opened it up. There were Mom and Dad with a look of such love on their
faces. With trembling arms they hugged me awake and thanked me for my
note. Seeing the happiness I had given them made my own heart jump for
joy. I was amazed that my simple words could have touched them so. It
was the first time I could ever remember seeing my Dad cry.
That
beautiful memory has stayed alive in my soul ever since. It was with me
when I wrote my first story and sent it to the local county paper. It
was with me when I began to share my stories online with thousands of
people all over this world. It was with me when I published my first
book. It is with me now as I write these words. It reminds me that my
writing is a gift from God and sharing it with others is my gift to God.
Don't be shy about sharing your many gifts from God with this world.
It doesn't matter what they are. They can be talents, skills, brains, or
brawn. They can be smiles, hugs, laughter and joy. They can be acts of
kindness and a spirit of compassion. They can be your work or your
avocation. They can even be a simple note written with love. All that
matters is that you share them. All that matters is that you use them to
make this world a little more like Heaven.
Joseph J.
Mazzella