Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Your Best Gift Ever

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. -Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet


I feel like I am a good gift giver. Most times (not always, mind you), I've been able to really pull it together and give a good gift. Not that I'm bragging. But there's something in my brain that makes me remember the weirdest things. Of all the things my co-worker has told me, I remembered that his favorite story is about the Monkey King (it's a Chinese tale about Buddha) and, while in Hong Kong, I bought him a Monkey King. Random, I know. But those are the types of things I remember.

One year, for my husband's birthday, I bought him tickets to see an Indians game at Yankees Stadium, 6 rows behind first base. I surprised my little brother (who is somewhat of a geek, like me) with tickets to Hamlet (sure, it was a gift for me too). It always excites me to give a good gift.

Now, obviously Jesus gave the best gift of all. You open up all the Christmas-wrapped boxes and you got...Socks, under shirts, an embarrassing book from Aunt Jennie and then you see that Jesus gave you eternal salvation. Hmmm. Which one are you going to return? I'm keeping that last one!

Right now, there is the possibility that I could...MAYBE...be giving a gift that I never really thought of. I don't want to go into too much detail because I haven't even cleared the donor questionnaire, but...it's a super big deal. And it's scary. And I'm kind of scared. And I e-mailed the woman (who I don't know) because I saw her sign at church. We share our building with another congregation and she goes to BUCC and I go to Advent. But I saw it and I just...felt like I should e-mail her. I still feel like I could lose my lunch when I think about it all. And I shouldn't even be contemplating it. Because almost everything is too far away.

But if I can do this and give this gift to her, could you imagine? They would say it's the gift of life, but...this life. A gift for this life, for sure. I think that's more then I really could ever have imagined giving and that is amazing.

I want to know: what is the best gift you've ever been given? Or what is the best gift you feel like you ever gave?

What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God. -Eleanor Powell

6 comments:

  1. My children and granddaughter are the greatest gift...other than the gift of Christ!
    Blessings, andrea

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  2. Ms. D,

    Just like you, my salvation is the priceless gift that I am keeping for the rest of this life. In real life, it would have to be the year that my hubby bought me a Christmas tree and had it all decorated just a year after my divorce from my ex. I just wasn't in the holiday mood but he made it extra special and restored my hope in man kind again. He was worth waiting for and marrying.

    Good luck with your decision to provide the gift of life, and would love to link that story on my ARK for God blog when you write it.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  3. Mrs. D~
    I just love how you worded what you are doing as a gift for this life, instead of saying the gift of life. That's really profound and all I can say is that it's probably one of the best gifts ever in this life!
    As you know, my SIL just had her transplant and her kidney was donated by her Aunt. All is well and good today. Everyone is rejoicing and my SIL is so humbled and grateful.
    ((HUGS)) & Best wishes to you in making the decision to help another, stranger or not.

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  4. Bless you for even considering such a thing. You are a wonderful person and I agree that your wording is wonderful. The best gift I've ever been given is having my two parents beat cancer at the same time. It was such a rough period for us, but bought us so much closer and to know that I could have lost both of them is such a reminder to be grateful everyday.

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  5. I agree that the gift of salvation is the best gift ever! God's gift of my husband and children are right up there too. Good health also.

    Hmm...the best gift I've ever given someone was time. Two years ago, instead of running errands, I spent sveral hours with a friend from church. Our 5 boys--collectively ---all play together. Kelly and I saw each other for years at church and basketball only. For years! We spent the afternoon together, and it was lovely! 3 months later, while cutting the grass, she died of a heart condition that no one knew about. 43, mom of 3, wife, daughter, sister, friend...just like that. I want to give that gift of time to others as well. It is precious.

    Hugs!
    Susan

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  6. You are a great gift giver...one of the best I have ever met!!!!!
    I am going to email you this weekend. Life is looking better.
    love you.
    xxxxx

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