Gift of Giving

Gifts are just the greatest
I’m not necessarily speaking receiving,
Although special too,
But giving
Is there any joy greater?
Surprises, great feats, small mementos
Baking, making cards, surprise visits
Quick note, lengthy book
Heartfelt prayers, simple talks
Pricey gift, timely touch
Just to let someone know
They’ve been on your mind
They’ve been on your heart
Scheming to give
Imagining their reaction
But that is the best part
Oh to give, love, pour out all you have
And to receive an overjoyed, excited, grateful reaction
A genuine reaction
That is the best gift to receive
Only can it turn sour
When reactions to time, love and energy are
Fake
Under-grateful
Expecting more
Don’t they understand?
How vulnerable it makes me,
How much of myself I gave,
How much their joy means to me?
So then,
Would I hold back my gift
If I knew I may get a sour reaction?
No
I shan’t
For the love I give
Is not mine to withhold
The love I give has been given to me
In order to give
The love I was given
Gave despite reaction
It was His joy
And it was His life
Love gives to the ungrateful
Those who don’t know the vulnerability displayed
The life, time, sacrifice that was put into it
Love gives for its joy
Not merely for the joy of a reaction
Yet when there is a reaction
Whether immediately or years down the road,
Love knows its all worth it
Every miniscule detail
Every vulnerable step
And all the heart and life given for the gift

Gift giving is a hand-me-down
A joy that was born in us
A reflection of our Father
Oh the joy set before him
To give the greatest gift!
Some know of the sacrifice
Some know of the perfect timing
Few know the cost
Even fewer still know the inexpressible joy!
Oh, how the Father loves to give
How the Father loves our reaction
Genuine reaction
Grateful reaction
A reaction which recognizes the Giver
And all he went through to give
Just to surprise,
To delight
To woo
To lavish his love
In a desire for us to reciprocate
To those around us
With joy
With intentionality
And with all we are
Yes, it is a love language as some say
But it is more
It is love
May we give good gifts!
As our Father gives good gifts
And not confuse it for worldly gifts
Or resort to mindless gifts
Because we don’t have ourselves to give
Guard us from business, Lord
For Satan knows it is then
That we forsake giving good gifts
We forsake giving ourselves
We forsake true love

I love to give
It is what my heart yearns to do
For all
Praise the Lord,
The giver of all that is good
Life
Love
Joy
Hope
Peace
Jesus
Oh, that we don’t trust
Fully trust
The Giver of all good gifts
Lord, forgive us
May we be grateful
And filled with joy
In receiving your gifts
Joy to the world, you are Emmanuel!

One more thought:
Is it weird that we give gifts
To everyone at Christmas
And forget to gift the child?
Is it weird that we are so eager
And encouraged
To gift people
Rather than our Lord?
Maybe we ask,
What gift is there to bring
To the giver?
What gift can we give
When he is not present?
And yet is it not we who say he is alive?
He is risen?
Would it not be fitting
To ask what Jesus wanted
For his own birthday…
One who needs no birthday
But was, is and is to come
Yet chose birth to enter
To enter a world of ungrateful
Disobedient humans
What do you want for Christmas
From me?
Is it scary to ask?
For he might answer
Instead we assume he desires to gift others
To show our love
But is it weird we gift those
We should be gifting regularly
In every interaction,
And every day?
Who might he be asking us to love
For his birthday?
For our entire life-
For our life too is a gift
Given by the Giver
Not our own
Do we not ask him what he wants
Ever?
From us
With love
Christmas means nothing
Nothing at all
If we do not live the meaning of Christmas
Gifting love by gifting our life
To Christ
Even on the holidays
Oh, that we would be guided by the Giver
Then we would too give Life
For we would be gifting
The Giver
And what a good gift that is!
May we feast on his love
This holiday to come
And share the banquet
With those who are hungry.
May we be givers
Of good gifts.
Gift through us, Good Giver.