My daughter is getting married. It is , as the saying goes, " the best of times and....the worst of times." I mean I'm happy for her and I love who she is marrying but this is my baby daughter we are talking about!
Last weekend was her bridal shower and all the ladies ooh-ed and aww-ed at her gifts. I got the lovely couple very nice luggage for their honeymoon cruise. They were thrilled. No, really they were and I realized how each of my children are in a different season in their lives and, how if each were to receive a gift today, how different each gift would be.
My teenage sons certainly would never be so excited about luggage. I laugh, now, imagining the dumbfounded looks on their faces. I'm almost positive the first comment out of their mouth would be something along the lines of, "Are you kicking us out Momma?" Ha!
No, a gift needs to be appropriate for the time, season, and individual. Teenage boys are easy. All they really ever want is money and food and if you can wrap it up and call it a present, even better! Their conscience has been released from the pressure of earning it to having been given it freely. No chores were involved in the process of obtaining it, which frees up the possibility of extorting money in exchange for chores later.
The true definition of a gift as explained by Webster's dictionary is something that is given to another, or a special gift or ability. A gift is something personal and exclusive to that individual. The one giving it should have wisdom and understanding of the time and season that person is in. It wouldn't be very enjoyable to receive a pair of shoes you always wanted only to discover they didn't fit.
God is the perfect and most willing Giftgiver .
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above....
Which means God has given each of us a particular "something", a talent, a craft, a good and perfect present. The ultimate gift was the life of His Son who died for our sins and nothing is more perfect than that but did you know that you have one tailor made for you? One that when opened brings a creative process to making you who He created you to be?
What a Good Good Father to love us so much that we get presents! Happy Birthday to me!
I'm not ashamed to tell you I'm 45 and still unwrapping my present. At the first glimpse into the box I could hardly believe my eyes. I'm sad to admit I've doubted what was in the box for at least 20 years but with fear and trembling I'm pulling up my big girl britches and throwing back the lid!
If the creator of the Earth and Sky loves me enough to perfectly formulate a gift for me....well....you better believe I'm diving in and like on Christmas morning, I'm leaning over to you right now saying, "What did you get?" "Man that's perfect for you and just what you wanted!"
