Mary Sujani has made three hundred puppets, and every one of them preaches

5Talents: Please share about your professional life.

I’m working with a Christian organisation located in Hyderabad, for more than nine years. My main work is to develop curriculum for children’s Bible schools. Apart from writing Bible lessons for different age groups, I also design illustrations for the children’s workbooks. I’m also deputed for various training programmes at state and all-India level, for training our partners and organisers concerned with our projects, and staff.

5Talents: Please share about the gifts you have received from God.

God gave me skills such as drawing, painting, soft toys, writing skills and making different puppets.

One talent after the other

5Talents: How and when did you discover your talent?

Mmm… at a very young age. Specifically I cannot mention when and how, but I would say that as I was growing up I discovered one talent after the other.

5Talents: Who are your influences?

My family, who also think creatively as I do.

5Talents: Did you need special training or coaching, or did it all come naturally?

It was all natural, but to polish my talents I took vocational courses.

“God showed that He is a refiner”

5Talents: What important lessons has the Lord taught you through your talent?

First of all, I have learnt not to be proud of any of the talents that I received as a gift from God. Secondly, I did not worry about the smallest talent that I had. God showed that He is a refiner, and my life as gold. I walked in faith thinking that God, who kept the seed of talent in me, will surely use me and let it grow in His own time. When I was struggling with my career and I found myself at the crossroads, not knowing what next, the God who saved me placed me in this very ministry and gave me a platform to multiply and use my talents for His glory. I experience success in every step I take.

5Talents: In what ways has God used you to bring blessing to others?

Through my writing and drawing skills many are being blessed and have come to know the Lord. I have seen many transformed stories, and children accepting Christ. I feel so blessed.

5Talents: Have you ever felt inadequate, or not enough? If so, which verse from the Bible helped you to be patient?

Never. God gave me in abundance even before I asked. Based on the life of the farmer in James 5:7–8, I really like these verses for showing the need for patience — because farmers have to be patient. I have also learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, through Philippians 4:12.

Diamonds people walk over

5Talents: What would you say to someone who is talented but sad, because they are not given an opportunity to use it, or the talent is not recognised by others?

I believe God does not create waste, and never give up. Each individual is valuable. If we walk upon natural diamonds or stones in a wilderness, most of us would ignorantly walk over them and treat them as worthless, having no clue of their value and how beautiful they would look if expertly cut and polished. Likewise, most people might walk over you and never give you an opportunity to shine, or recognise you. Don’t get discouraged. It matters not how people see you. All that matters is the staggering power of God to transform something of breathtaking beauty in you. It is in our hands, friends, whether we want our lives to be a rugged stone or a polished one. Recognise and utilise the opportunities that are placed before you, and leave the rest to God.

Most of us would walk over a diamond in the wilderness and treat it as worthless, having no clue of its value.

Mary Sujani

5Talents: What would you say to someone who says “I am not very talented — how could God use me?”

It is often used by Christians as an excuse not to do anything to benefit the kingdom of God. They insist on sitting back saying “I am not very talented,” until the Lord finds something for them to excel in. You want to discover what your God-given talents are, and how you should use them for the Lord? Then get busy serving the Lord in some capacity. In doing so, you will find out where your true talents lie, and ultimately where you can best serve the Lord. I did the same, and I encourage you to do the same. Keep in mind, a day is coming when we will all stand before our almighty God, and He will want to know how you have served Him with the talents, time, money and resources entrusted to you. Be a good steward for our Lord Jesus Christ, and ask Him daily how you can serve Him.