“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Matthew 7:9-11 NKJV
Have you ever made a birthday or Christmas list? Or registered for wedding or baby shower gifts? I’ve made a few in my day and it sure makes shopping for someone easier. It takes the guess work out of it. I would much rather get someone what they want versus what I think they want.
I imagine all of us want to be good gift givers – we want the receiver to like or be pleased with what we give. At least I do.
Perhaps that’s why I’m not a fan of holidays – I fear or worry that someone will not like what I’ve chosen. Shopping takes time and tremendous energy for me because I find myself worrying over every little detail. Truthfully, I worry that I don’t know how to give good gifts.
I believe the key to being a good gift giver is relationship. Think about it – the more personal a gift is, the more memorable it seems to be. I still remember my 40th when my husband gave me a personalized Bible, and I’ll probably always remember this year’s gift from him – a handmade Hanukiah made from a tree that fell during the cloud rotation that brought so much destruction just 3 months ago. It’s a gift that will one day be passed to my daughter and something that will be enjoyed for years to come. I imagine it darkening and changing over the years as it is covered in wax. The gift is good not because it’s expense but because it is personal. The value comes from the relationship and the memory – not the material.
G-d is the ultimate gift giver. He knows just what we need and He gives it right on time. Perhaps it’s packaged as an answer to prayer, perhaps it’s seen in the beauty of the sunrise, or the sound of the doves call. His gifts are all around us, all day, every day. And each one is good and perfect.
I don’t always see His gifts for what they are but I’m praying today for Him open my eyes a little more to what’s before me. He is good and I choose to trust Him.
Father – thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your gifts. Give me eyes to see what You have provided for me. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Matthew 5-7
October 10, 2022