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    Robert stuttered badly as a young boy growing up in Brooklyn. On days he knew he would be called upon in class, he played hooky. At age 15, he quit school to deliver shoes and dresses for his father and uncle in Manhattan.

    One day his mother, who had a beautiful voice, heard him singing around the house and took him to a voice instructor whose studio was in the Metropolitan Opera House. Robert was awe struck. The man agreed to teach Robert on a scholarship and Robert began to sing in earnest. Between deliveries, he sang. And night he sang and went to lessons.

He was determined to succeed.

    Not long after, while making a delivery on 57th Street, he saw a crowd at Steinway Hall and learned that auditions were being held for a summer job at Scaroon Manor, an Adirondack resort. He got the job, beating out more than 40 competitors. Only 18 with no real stage experience, he was determined to succeed. He did it all summer — singing show tunes and backup for chorus girls, being the straight man for a young comedian named Red Skelton.

    Baritone Robert Merrill went on to give 800 performances at the Metropolitan Opera House. He has sung for nine Presidents, and he is still singing, still developing his talent.

    Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV): “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might...” It has been said, “If a task is once begun, never leave it till it’s done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all.”

    Today, let’s remember that we aren’t perfect, so the talents and abilities given to us from the Father can continually be developed through proper use and God’s grace. If we aren’t developing our abilities, we’re missing out on serving our God to our fullest potential.