Uncovering the Small Talents

Radio Voice of Life programme is a game and a shore. Radio Voice of Life, what kind of programme is it, Khala Jan? It’s a programme for children. Everyone performs whatever they know there.

I can tell stories. What should I do, mother dear? Maryam, you can do the drawings, my daughter. No, mother dear, I’m shy. What if I get laughed at? They might laugh, but you have the talent, Maryam.

Maryam, why don’t you do drawings, my daughter? Nafiseh said they might laugh at me, neighbour. Are you doing drawings for people or for God? Mother dear, I do drawings for God. Yes, my daughter, don’t worry about anything else, just go ahead and draw.

First, let me tell a story to Nafiseh. I’m going to tell a story about the love of God. Alright, Maryam, it’s your turn. I’ve shown my drawings. Did you see, Maryam, how happy the people were? Maryam, the other drawings were beautiful too. There were many good stories.

Did you see, my daughter? Our kind God has distributed talents among us, and no talent is small or insignificant. Beautiful children, you must listen to your mother and father a lot. And children, be cheerful and well-spoken. Good and lovely children.

Now let’s listen to the next part of the programme together. Greetings and peace to all my dear listeners. Greetings to all the dear listeners of our radio. May God fill your day with peace and joy. How are you? I hope you are all well and healthy.

Greetings to my lovely friends. I am Nafiseh from the beautiful city of Mazar. I am very happy to be with you today. May God bless you for always listening to our programme. Greetings to our dear listeners. Greetings to our viewers.

I hope your tea is warm. May your hearts be at peace, and may your homes be filled with the light of God. Greetings to sweet and beloved children. We are also thinking of you. From here, from the heart of Mazar Sharif, I send a warm smile and a blessed prayer to each of you dear ones. May God keep you safe.

Well, dear ones, today we want to talk about a very sweet and important topic, and that is discovering small talents. Sometimes we think that a talent has to be very big and special, but the truth is that most talents start from something very small.

Oh, mother dear. I always want to understand what talent God has given me. Sometimes I think it might be drawing. Sometimes I think it might be singing. I also feel this way. Every day I enjoy something new. I don’t want to say any of them is my main talent.

Some days I enjoy singing. Some days I help my mother. One day it's housework. Children and beautiful girls of our homeland, this curiosity itself is a sign. Every person has a special gift from God.

The important thing is to understand what it is, little by little. Mother dear, I have a question. Maybe my friends at home have the same question. How do we know if something is a talent or just an interest? Yes, my daughter, a talent is that work which when you do it, you forget the passage of time.

You become absorbed in it, but at the same time, your heart feels happy. And most importantly, your heart wants to do that work better than the previous day. For example, when I help with housework or help someone well, does that count as a talent? Oh, my dear.

Some people have their talents in kindness and compassion. God loves these kinds of talents very much. Dear children at home, allow me to read a verse from the Holy Bible, from the first letter of Peter, chapter 4, verse 10, which warms the heart a lot.

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Oh, dear sister, does that mean we should use every talent we have to help others? Exactly, that’s the point, Nafiseh dear, talents are not just for us, they are also to bless the world.

Mother dear, do you remember the day we gathered bread for the poor? Maryam worked with such a joyful heart. Oh my daughter, many people have the talent of caring. Maryam, who always helps animals and people with her kindness. Really? I thought it was just a simple thing.

I never thought it would be a kind of talent. No dear, God can value any work done with a pure heart. Someone who can listen well has a great talent. The world is full of people who just talk, but there are few who can listen well to what others say.

Now, dear, how can we practice to find our talents? Sometimes, one gets confused. Children, do a simple task. Take a few minutes today to think about which task makes your heart feel at ease when you do it. This task is usually a talent.

Friends, I might take a book and write down everything I like. You start doing the same. Well done, my daughter, that’s the best way. Little by little, from all the tasks, one thing will stand out brightly.

Maryam, let’s do something together. Let’s choose a talent and write it down. Here it is, friends, my sister joined us. You should also start doing it. Lada Jan, when you were doing housework, what was your talent?

I liked sewing since childhood. I always sewed beautiful clothes. Back then, I didn’t understand it was a talent, but later I realised. Marjan Jan, maybe that’s why you sew with precision and beauty now.

Exactly, my daughter, a talent when nurtured becomes a skill. Khana Jan, what talent did you have? I liked storytelling since childhood. Whenever relatives gathered, they said this girl, when she tells a story, it refreshes our hearts.

Khana Jan, even now, your words make people's hearts happy. Thank you, dear sister. Sweet listeners, today take a minute to think and reflect on what your talent is. It might be small, it might be big.

It’s very important to understand your talent. If you don’t understand, ask your mother or father. Sometimes family members or close friends notice things about us before we do. Well done, my clever daughters.

Today, children at home who are listening to our radio, understand that God has not created anyone without a talent. Your talent is a part of your normal existence in this world. A talent is like a light. If you don’t turn it on, it won’t shine. Think about using it.

Now, dear, if someone finds their talent, what should they do? They should start practising. A talent without practice is like a seed that stays in the soil and doesn’t grow. For example, if someone loves to sing, what should they do? They should practise for a few minutes every day.

Not too much, but consistently. If someone likes to draw, they should draw something small every day, even if it’s just a line. If someone enjoys helping, what should they do? They can do a small act of kindness every day. Say a prayer for someone. Share a smile. Help a little at home.

These are acts of service. Mother dear, do you remember the day I wrote a letter for my sick aunt Mahitab? Oh yes, my daughter, she was very happy. She said your words warmed her heart. Yes, it turned out that you have a talent for writing.

Really? Maybe I do. I wrote a letter to Nafiseh. The words were a prayer. This blessing is not small. Our dear children, God has given us talents to make our world around us better. Not for self-display, but for the sake of love.

Friends, I learned from my mother’s words that talent should serve others. What do you think? Oh, my dear mother, any talent that is only for oneself becomes stagnant.

But a talent that helps others becomes even more nourishing. I want to find my talent and put it to work. How about you, dear ones? You sweet children, I learned a lot from this part of the programme. How about you?

I am sure you have learned many good things. Yes, sweet and lovely children. Now I want to ask you what you learned from this part of the programme and what was interesting for you.

Maryam and I learned a lot and we ask you to share what you learned with your sweet friends. Now let’s listen to the next part of the programme together.

In your homes, are there some people who do things well? But others don’t. Yes, Khana Jan, for example, one sings well, one writes well, and one just draws beautiful things.

I think I don’t have any specific talent. I also think that there’s still time for you to understand your interest. Yes, this saying is common among many people. But let me tell you a story.

A story about talents that are small yet very important. There was a boy named Yusuf. He didn’t stand out much and wasn’t very strong. He was always calm and listened more than he spoke.

In school, the teachers would ask Yusuf why he was different from others. Yusuf wouldn’t say anything and would just smile. So, Yusuf wasn’t a bad student? No, my dear, he wasn’t a bad student, but he also wasn’t the best.

One day, in their village, a child fell ill. His mother was crying a lot. Yusuf approached the sick child and held his hand. He comforted him gently, saying, “Don’t worry, I’m here.” Soon, the child calmed down. Isn’t that just a simple act?

Exactly, many thought so. The next day, an old man was alone. No one was listening to him. Yusuf went to him and listened to his stories. The old man felt very blessed that someone was listening to him.

So, you mean this also counts as a talent? Oh yes, dear, it counts very much. Slowly, people realised that Yusuf, who had a compassionate heart, could bring peace to them.

He didn’t use strong hands, but rather attentive ears and a calm heart. So, Yusuf’s talent was listening to people? Well done, Nafiseh, you understood well. And Yusuf was very kind too.

One day, his teacher told him, “Yusuf, you have a valuable talent.” Yusuf replied, “I haven’t done anything special.” The teacher said, “That calm heart is not a small task.”

Many talents aren’t loud or grand? No, my dear, some talents are quiet. It’s like breathing; small talents, if recognised, can build great hearts. Everyone has something.

A listening ear, a helping hand, and a soothing tongue. Now, dear, maybe we should remember to listen to others' hearts. We might be able to bring a smile to someone’s face just by being kind.

Did you see, girls, talents are always found. When a person opens their heart, not just their eyes. If your talent seems small today, don’t be afraid. Small things, when combined with great love, can change the world.

The story was so beautiful, sweet, and instructive. I learned so many new things, and I hope it has been instructive for you as well. Yes, dear Maryam, I learned a lot too. Yes, dear children, we have now reached the end of this programme. Sweet and lovely children, I commend you all to God. Goodbye to all of you.