Being young has great advantages: high energy, zest for life, a fresh approach. Of course, it also has a downside: others might not take a young person seriously! “You’re so young,” an older employee might say to his/her younger colleague, with a figurative pat on the head.

I wonder if that’s a frustration Timothy felt as a leader in his community. Paul encourages this young disciple not to be annoyed by other people’s attitudes, but to set a positive example and persevere in what he is doing. Paul reminds Timothy about the gift Timothy already has. Often I worry about the gifts I don’t have rather than nurturing the gifts I do have.

Are there gifts I’ve neglected to appreciate in my life? What are simple ways I can glorify God by serving others with these gifts? How has God blessed me today: in my family, friends, work, or studies?

Maggie Melchior is a convert to the Catholic faith. She currently serves as Coordinator of New Evangelization and Faith Formation for a parish in the Diocese of Green Bay.