Quit Messing With The Gifts
Every year about this time one of
my siblings will remind me of what I would do as a little kid. You see,
I'm not the most patient of types. I'm not really into surprises.
And I really don't do well when something is right in front of me and I can't
see it. So that makes for a perfect storm when it comes to shiny and
pretty packages set under the tree with that annoying phrase, 'do not open
until Christmas.' Who thinks up these rules?!
I was a wee bit mischievous as a
kid and I have a little confession to make. When mom and dad would leave
the house with little ole me (being the oldest) in charge...well let's just say
I used all of my time very efficiently. It was like someone was under the
tree with a megaphone saying, 'Tami come unwrap me.' So I tried, but I
couldn't do it. Okay, I didn't try that hard because I really and I mean
really wanted to know what was in those packages that had the name, 'Tami' on
them!
So like any great entrepreneur in
the making, I had a system. I knew how to very carefully undo the tape,
slip my little finger in there and loosen the end so I could easily slide the
item out just enough to see. And then once I got a good peek, I pushed it
back in, resealed the tape and gave it a good look to make sure everything was
in order. And can you see the smile that was plastered on my face?!
Oh the sheer delight of seeing what was inside.
Don't we all get a little excited
to open a gift? So if Jesus came to the world as the greatest gift the
world has ever seen, wouldn't it seem to reason that we are gifts He has given
the world? I can hear you say yes. But how often do we think
of ourselves as a gift? We know how to speak curses over our own
life. We know how to beat ourselves up. But I don't think we know
just how incredibly special and significant we are in the eyes of our Father.
You and I, we are a one of a kind
gift. We have been blessed with talents. We have a call on our
life. We are a gift that needs re-gifted! You heard me right.
While the principle of re-gifting those gifts under the tree is a bit
questionable, re-gifting you is a MUST! You are not a package that should be
carefully opened and then hidden away for a later date. You are a
prize! So how is your life speaking into the lives of others? Are you
willing to share 'you' with a world that needs what you have? You have a
unique relationship with the author of the universe. You have insights,
you have compassion, you have forgiveness, you have wisdom, you have
discernment, you have creative expressions inside of you. You have.
You have. You have.
So don't hold back. The
greatest gift you can give through-out the year is the gift of you!
People want to hear from you. They want to see your life and they just
don't want a peek...they want the whole gift.
So go ahead. Imagine you are
the gift under your tree. You're a beautifully wrapped package with a
shiny bow. Imagine you hear me saying, 'open the gift.' Go ahead,
unwrap yourself early. Don't wait until Christmas! Something to
think about. And Merry Christmas...Tami
