A New Way to Gift
This
past Christmas our family went through the process of finding out what to get
each other. Your family probably went through the same process. Now in years
past we would submit a list of items and then we would figure who would purchase
what items. This was a smooth and harmless process for the Zeiger family. This
year I had the opportunity to speak to a group of men and I used an
illustration that has changed how our family does gifts. I said to the men, I
can ask my wife what she wants for Christmas and she can provide me a list of
gift items to purchase for her. When I get what is on her list she is hopefully
thankful and I think I have done a great thing. That is more of a business
exchange. But when I get my wife the gift she really wanted, that didn’t make
the list or she didn’t have to tell me, she is ecstatic. Why? Because it came
out of being immersed in the relationship, that knowledge came from listening,
interacting with her and being observant, present in her world.
Being
slow of mind, I didn’t even think to apply that illustration into this year’s
family Christmas gift exchange. My son
one day sent me a text asking me what I wanted for Christmas, then the wheels
in my head began to turn and wisdom began to flow from my fingers unto the keys
located on my phone. I told him, I can give you a list but it means even more
if you make something, do something or purchase something that would bless the
person based on what you know the person would like, preferably without even discussing it. So
this Christmas, we applied that idea and it really made gift giving a joy. It
removed the stress of trying to come with something to get each other and made
the opening of our gifts extra special. When you receive something you asked for
or that you put on your list, you are happy when you receive it, but the
surprise and anticipation lacks even if it is something you really wanted.
Until I applied this principle I had no idea what to get my wife, but once I
began to be a student of her, listening, observing and putting out a few
“feelers” it was really fun and easy. I got her things that she would never put
on a gift list. My kids got me things that I would not have put on a list, but
they observed me, they discussed with each other their findings and they
proceeded to obtain some gifts for me.
This
morning on my ride into work a Holy Spirit thought dropped in and challenged
me. He said, “this type of gifting is what I do for you. I know you intimately,
better than your know yourself. I bless you or gift you not always based on
your prayer list, but on what I know is on your heart. In fact, many times you
don’t even know that I have blessed you.” This is so true!
One
last thought from all of this, again a Holy Spirit prompt. How can I bless or
gift the Lord? Do I “gift” Him based on a list of things I know to do and check
each off as I do them or do I learn what is on His heart and gift Him
accordingly? This sobering thought has encouraged me to be an even better
student of the Lord. To observe what He is doing, what He is saying and find
the way to bless Him in it. This can really expand how we worship, how we bless
and how live our lives as an offering to the Lord
