A pretty common theme in frugality books and blogs is that of what is “in my hand.” In other words, how can I do what I need to do with what I have? In other, other words 😉 – resourcefulness.

I visited a Bible study this week with an acquaintance, and that was the theme for the study – resourcefulness. The primary text was the account of Abigail (and Nabal and David). Something that was brought out in the discussion of what resources we each have available to us and how we can use them to minister to others, was that Abigail used intangible resources in addition to the obvious sheep, bread, etc. As one quoted author put it, “Abigail’s address to David is a masterpiece reflecting feminine charm, wisdom and grace.” (This is attributed simply to “C.L.”)

So what I’ve been wrestling with for the remainder of this week is what resources I have. Not so much the tangible ones. (Beyond money) they require a bit of thought, but it isn’t difficult thinking. (Although some odd things can be resources – things we wouldn’t necessarily think of at first blush. Certain individuals might have access to excess fruit from a tree they don’t usually pick, or to auto accessories for a car they no longer own, or to hard-to-find books. These aren’t the things that immediately come to mind when we think of resources, but their very uniqueness can make them valuable.)

No, the resources I struggle to identify are the intangibles.  This is especially difficult for me at the moment, given the lengthy period of discouragement in my failings as a mother, in particular, and, to a lesser degree, a homemaker.  I feel like I have been doing things I’m not good at for so long that I’ve forgotten what I’m good at.  (It feels awkward to even write that in such a public forum, but it’s the truth.)  But we all have these intangible resources.  Apart from the things that we all have available to us through the sheer fact of our choices (the ability to forgive, for instance), we all have strengths.  “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them….” (Rom. 12:6a)

What resources do you have that you can use to bless others?