The Art of Gift Giving

From birthdays, to Christmas, to just because gifts, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't get at least a little pleasure from unwrapping a package to see what's inside. While we may all enjoy receiving gifts, we're not always good at giving them.

Gift-givers come in different types. There are thoughtful gift-givers, those who invest time and energy in finding the perfect gift. There are obligatory gift-givers, those that are less concerned with the perfect gift than with the equal-value gift. There are others who are confused gift-givers, w ho haven't a clue so buy last minute gifts at the convenience store or gifts that end up in a closet somewhere. And finally there are perspective givers, those who give gifts that may not be fully appreciated in the moment but have much value later. None of these are set roles; we may find we fall into different categories depending upon the circumstance. 

At my office baby-shower, each type of giver made an appearance and I appreciated everyone who thought of us no matter the gift. But of all the gifts we received, the one that stands out in retrospect is the gift I didn't fully appreciate in the moment. It was a wicker basket filled with baby food, cereal and related items. In the midst of newborn diapers, cute onsies and frilly dresses, it seemed an odd gift at the time. But months later when the moment suddenly came that our little one needed more than milk to satisfy, we had everything on hand. We had nearly forgotten about it, having just placed it in the back of the pantry, but it was a godsend. A mother of many, the giver had a longer perspective than I, a first time mom, did. She knew how quickly the time would arrive and provided exactly what was needed.  

Have you ever received a gift that you didn't fully understand?

God is a habitual gift giver. He doesn't give us simply what we want, nor, thankfully, does He give us what we deserve. But He does always give us perfect gifts that are exactly what we need. Yet, that perfect gift may come as one we don't fully understand and may even be unrecognizable as a gift at the time. It may be disguised as a trial, difficulty or even loss. What may be beyond our ability to comprehend is not beyond God’s ability to accomplish.

Message for the Journey:

Rest assured that whatever it is that God has given you today, though it may be difficult to appreciate in the moment, it is a gift designed with your best interest at heart. Trust not because of your circumstances, but because of your God.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him , who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28