I
love giving gift at Christmas. I’m
not all that good at it, but it is fun to try. Bev, my late wife, was the a
master of gifting! She never just went shopping to ‘get a gift.’ She thought about the person and gave things
she thought would delight that person. Here are some tips on bringing joy and
blessings to others this Christmas.
1. Make it personal. A
few years ago, my son Sean created a ‘book’ in which he shared ways that I had
been a good Dad. It’s a gift that holds value, years after the giving. The best
gifts don’t come from Amazon, do they?
2. Give yourself. Time is
the most valuable commodity we have. It’s easier to write a check than it
is to offer someone ourselves. In the year since Bev went home to Heaven, my
life has been enriched by so many who take time to talk, who offer hugs, who send
a note, write a Facebook message. Those little gifts have steadied me in the
anguish. So, give yourself! Make an
offer of a night of babysitting for a young couple. Offer to spend an evening
with an elderly person who is alone. Sit on the floor with a 4 year old and give
her your full attention while she tells her stories.
3. Enhance the value of another.
Pay somebody a sincere compliment and watch them light up. Write a
paragraph that tells somebody how her life makes the world a better
place. Tell them they are a great Mom, or an inspiring Christian, or a
super-listener, or a hard worker, or… you’re getting the idea, right? Use the gift of words to speak blessings into the
life of another. Critics abound. Go against the stream and speak words that
build up.
4. Sacrifice without seeking notice!
Find out a way to take care of a need for somebody, then do it
anonymously, if possible. Few things bring me greater joy than hearing about a
need and taking steps to meet it, whether that’s putting the person in touch
with somebody who can help, writing a check to put some gas in their car, or
praying earnestly. When we give from our own need, God blesses that kind of
sacrifice. Remember the widow that put a penny in the offering? The Lord
told His disciples, she gave more than the rich guys who gave out of their
abundance. In our giving, be it to God or others, Jesus reminds us, “Be
especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a
performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t
be applauding. … Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your
God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out."
(Matthew 6:1, 4 The Message)
Personal, engaged,
other-centered, unselfish – who taught me those things? The One whose Gift inspires this
Season. The Word says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his
only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal
life." (John 3:16, NLT) He gave Himself, for us, at great cost.
My prayer is that we will be changed by His gift and then, from the
richness of grace poured into us, become people who give the best gifts.
Here’s a word from the Word. "There is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:15-17, NLT)
________________
Follow
the star to a place unexpected.
Would
you believe after all we've projected?
A
child in a manger,
Lowly
and small, the weakest of all.
Unlikeliest
hero, wrapped in His mother's shawl,
Just
a child
Is
this who we've waited for 'cause.
How
many kings stepped down from their thrones?
How
many lords have abandoned their homes?
How
many greats have become the least for me?
And
how many gods have poured out their hearts
To
romance a world that is torn all apart?
How
many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Bringing
out gifts for the newborn Savior,
All
that we have, whether costly or meek
Because
we believe,
Gold
for His honor and frankincense for His pleasure
And
myrrh for the cross He'll suffer.
Do
you believe
Is
this who we've waited for?
How
many kings stepped down from their thrones?
How
many lords have abandoned their homes?
How
many greats have become the least for me?
And
how many gods have poured out their hearts
To
romance a world that is torn all apart?
How
many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only
one did that for me, oh,
All
for me, all for you.
Jason Germain | Marc Martel
© 2006 Centricity Music Publishing (Admin. by Music
Services, Inc.)
Germain and Martel Publishing (Admin. by Music
Services, Inc.)
CCLI License # 810055
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