Graceful Gifting

Romans 12:6 -- "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us."

There is nothing quite like the wonderful tired that sets in when the gifts have all been doled out on Christmas morning. The shreds of wrapping paper pile up like Mount Everest and bows have been stuck to everything, including the cat. The warm contentment and sleepy twinkle in our eyes is some of the most precious joy I've ever had the privileged to experience. AND since our extended family is HUGE, and most of them collect right here in Florida to celebrate our Savior's birth - the sweet and joyful Christmas tired sets in ten fold once the juggling of get-togethers has come to fruition and the flocks all fly back home to their own states. Whew!

It tickles the soul to see the next generation start to make some of their own treasured Christmas memories. As the tiny ones learn to make wrapping paper balls instead of snow balls [we are in Florida, after all] and figure out how to hold their own in all-out after-presents paper war, one can't help but think back to sweet Christmas-past and remember the old family traditions.

When my sister and I were little, more often than not, we were given identical Christmas gifts. Especially at the big family get-togethers. We were so close in age that the twin gift thing was a great way to prevent comparing and complaining. Since we were the first set of grand kids on both sides of the family, giving us each the same gift was also a great way to keep us occupied by play. We could both get lost in our imaginations in a shared new-toy kind of experience. It puts a smile on my face when I catch myself doing the same thing with my extended family's little ankle-biters.

As the years flew by, however, and my sister and I began to grow into our own personalities and preferences, the Christmas gifts became less identical. We were each gifted something that was tailor-chosen to our very different tastes. Our family started to teach us that we were two different people and that it was o.k. - good, even - to each receive a little something apart from sister. We were taught to stop comparing our gifts and to be thankful for the gifts we were each given. We even learned that getting something so carefully and thoughtfully chosen specifically for each of us had a deeper and more sentimental meaning than did a package-deal with matching ribbons and bows.

In turn, I tried to instill that same lesson in my two boys when they were little, and I know the moment will come when the newest generation in our ever-growing family clan will learn to cherish individuality. I can't look back through a sepia-colored mental image with soft, foggy edges and remember the exact Christmas I became a separate identity from my sister. I DO remember that it didn't happen over night and that there were moments when we each complained that we weren't given equally. It must have been a monumental climb up a rocky mountain for my parents during those moments. As I continue to grow - older, if not up - I find myself in awe of the gentle love and patience  it surely took my parents to raise me. They have both, ever been graceful gifters committed to teaching their children to be graceful receivers.

In the book or Romans, Paul tries to teach this valuable life-lesson to a freshly planted church. The precious and well-thought-out gift gracefully given to you by our Creator, might not be the same precious gift He gave to me.

And that's GOOD! GREAT, even! If God has graciously given me the gift to sing, it would be somewhat pointless for me to wish I had been given an ink pen instead of a microphone. If I had the gift of teaching, it would be more than a little sad if I spent my limited time on this earth trying to be the best baker in the world.

And yet, that's sometimes EXACTLY what we humans end up doing. So-in-so leads the choir, I want to lead the choir, too. He's good at it, I also have to be good at it. Whats-her-face hosts beautiful Christmas parties every single year. I'm going to host beautiful Christmas parties that are even shinier and full of glitz and sparkle. Or - my parents were missionaries, I have to grow up to be a missionary....

I could add scads more to this list but I'm pretty sure you get the point .... 

In a fellow missionary's office nestled in the busy streets of Davao City, Philippines there hung a pig with writing on his rather ample belly and a smug look on his face. The words on this pig said:  "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It will frustrate you and annoy the pig."

Now isn't THAT the truth?!

Much like my parents raising two girls so very close in age, Paul had his hands full with the new church in Rome. In verses 10 and 15 of this chapter after instructing the baby church to cherish their individually given gifts,  Paul tells his fellow believers to love each other with genuine affection, and to take delight in honoring each other. He further instructs them to be happy with those who are happy, and to weep with those who weep. Notice, he doesn't tell them to compete with giggles and tears. He doesn't tell them to attempt to out-serve each other. Quite the opposite, in fact. He encourages them each to thrive and to share. Above all else, Paul asks them to practice being the person God has intended each of them to be - and to do it with as much hope and heart as they can possibly muster.

I no longer sneak a peak through gift bags and wrapping paper to spy on what my sister was given for Christmas. I no longer mentally count the number of items we each get to make sure they equal the same amount. I will forever be grateful for the teaching of this value by my parents and family. I will endeavor to do the same. AND I will focus serving my God with the precious grace He gave to ME. I will not try borrow the gifts He gave to other people. As I strive to unwrap the precious gift God chose specifically for me ON purpose, I will strive with everything I am to fulfill that purpose to glorify Him.