Your skills may not be anything out of the ordinary, but you can

The words of Chris Gardner rise with the force of lived truth: “Your skills may not be anything out of the ordinary, but you can do miraculous things with what you've got. Maybe it's your parenting skills, or your compassion. It may be your curiosity, your imagination or unique style of fashion. Even if it seems to be no big deal, the lesson here is we all have unique abilities and talents.” In these words, Gardner proclaims a message of hope and empowerment—that greatness is not reserved for the extraordinary few, but is hidden within the ordinary many. What seems small, when touched with purpose, becomes a miracle.

The ancients knew this truth well. They taught that the seed, though small and humble, holds the power of forests within it. Likewise, the stone in the shepherd’s sling, though insignificant compared to the sword, can fell the mightiest warrior. So too with the human soul: skills that appear ordinary—caring for a child, showing compassion, imagining possibilities—become extraordinary when harnessed with love and courage. Gardner, who himself rose from homelessness to success, speaks with the authority of one who has lived this transformation.

History bears witness to this wisdom. Consider the life of Florence Nightingale. She was not born to be a general, nor did she wield political might. Her tools were knowledge of medicine, discipline, and an unyielding compassion for the sick. Yet with these “ordinary” gifts, she transformed the practice of nursing, saved countless lives during the Crimean War, and left a legacy still felt today. What seemed like no great talent compared to warriors or kings proved more enduring than their conquests. This is the power Gardner points to: the miraculous hidden in the everyday.

His words also dismantle the lie that one must be extraordinary to matter. Too often, people wait for greatness to arrive in the form of wealth, fame, or genius. But Gardner reminds us that it is curiosity, imagination, or even something as unassuming as a “unique style of fashion” that can inspire others, spark change, or create beauty. The miracle is not in possessing rare gifts, but in using the gifts you already have. For the world is not healed only by grand victories, but by countless small acts of love, courage, and creativity.

The heart of Gardner’s message is deeply democratic: everyone has something to offer. The mother raising her child with steady parenting skills is shaping the future as much as the inventor creating new machines. The neighbor who shows compassion to the lonely is performing a miracle no less holy than the work of saints. The lesson is that we must never dismiss our own gifts, nor belittle those of others, for each talent is a thread in the great tapestry of human flourishing.

The lesson for us is clear: do not despise your gifts because they seem small. Instead, cultivate them, honor them, and use them. What appears modest in your eyes may be monumental in the lives of others. Remember that the great rivers of the earth are formed not by one mighty spring, but by countless small streams flowing together. So too the greatness of humanity is born from the multitude of ordinary people living their gifts with courage.

Practically, this means paying attention to the talents within you, no matter how simple they appear. If you are compassionate, practice it daily. If you are curious, pursue knowledge. If you have imagination, create. If your strength is in raising children, pour into them wisdom and love. And if you see the gifts of others, speak encouragement, for by recognizing their worth, you help them believe in their own power.

Thus, let Gardner’s words be remembered: “We all have unique abilities and talents.” It is not the extraordinary few who carry the light of the world, but the ordinary many who dare to use what they have. When ordinary hands take up their simple gifts with courage, miracles follow. And in this, every soul, no matter how small it may seem, becomes a vessel of greatness.