Plink! Plink! Plink! One by one, Abbie slowly picked out the notes of the music for her piano recital. This is so hard, she thought. I'm not sure I'll ever get it good enough to play in front of a bunch of people! Abbie struggled on for a few minutes, then tossed the music book on the floor and began to play a song from memory. This is much more fun, she told herself. Later that day, Abbie helped Mom plant seeds in the garden. "You always have such pretty flowers, Mom," said Abbie. "Grandma says you have a green thumb--whatever that means." Mom laughed. "She means I have a talent for growing plants. That may be true, but I have to do a lot of work too. Thomas Edison, the great inventor, once said, 'Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.' I think he's right." "You do work hard in the yard--and you make me work hard too!" Abbie teased. "I don't mind gardening, but I don't have a green thumb like you do." "What do you like to do?" asked Mom. "What are you good at?" "Hmm." Abbie thought for a moment. "Playing the piano!" Then she frowned. "But I'm already tired of practicing my recital piece. I wish I didn't have to practice so much." "So I guess music is your green thumb area," said Mom. "You definitely have a talent for playing the piano. But if you want to develop that into something worthwhile, you'll have to work hard at it--just like I have to work hard at gardening even though I have a green thumb. But I know you can do it. God is the one who gave us our talents, and He will help us work to develop them so we can share our gifts with others and point them to Jesus." Abbie grinned. "But I don't think it's fair--I can help you in the garden, but you can't help me play the piano." "That's true," said Mom. "But I'll tell you what. When we're done here, I'll use another one of my talents while I listen to you rehearse your piece--I'll work on sewing your dress for the recital. How about that?" Abbie smiled and nodded. – Mary Rose Pearson