In the Parable of the Talents we learn of a Master who trusts three servants with five talents, two talents and a single talent. (According to some, the value of a Talent of gold was about $1,000 in today’s dollars).

When The Master returned to the servants, he found that the servant with five talents had used the talents, and earned five more, which he presented his Master. Likewise, the servant with two had put his talents to good use, and earned two more talents. The servant who was given a single talent, however, had simply buried his talent - according to him, it was for fear of his Master, although it’s hard to believe that was the real reason.

Parables are made to be applied to different situations - so I feel comfortable applying it to kids magnifying what options they have and what they make of their lives.

One kid grows up and has every benefit - lives in the same house all his life, has two supportive parents, a good school, good friends, health insurance, nice clothes - all of which not only make him a self confident young man, but set him up for success. It is worth celebration when he takes those 5 talents, and doubles them, and is found to have 5 more talents - is a successful professional, has a great wife and family, is healthy, wealthy, and wise.

One kid grows up, and does not enjoy every benefit - she moves around all the time, comes from a broken home, receives little school support, is not able to receive regular checkups (there’s no money for that) and wears what small and frugal wardrobe the family can afford. She, however, takes those two talents, and gets a degree, marries a great man, and is able to provide for her family.

Should not both receive the same kudos for their achievement? Both magnified their given talents by the same percentage. Both should receive the same reward. Not both get the same number of talents, but both would be told by the Master “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ ”

Or, in our case - they’re both due the same amount of respect. To respect the one more because he achieved 5 talents doesn’t take into account the 5 talents originally given - and that both did well considering their circumstances. Would the servant with the 5 talents be congratulated for earning 2? No, that’d be a failure. So achieving 5 isn’t OVER achieving, it’s doing exactly as the Master might hope and expect. The same was done by the servant with 2 talents who also magnified what she was given.

The servant with one talent, however, is the person who - because of their poor circumstances - will not try. They’re afraid of rejection? Don’t want to try? Dont’ believe in themselves? In either case, the person clings so tightly to the single talent they have, clings so hard to the tragedy that is their childhood, that they bury their talent and in the end, we are told: “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

I know how I’m doing with my talents - how are you doing with yours?