"Receiving Graciously" by Betty Spence, Poet Laureate of Hugh's News
“Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV).
The six-year-old unwrapped her Christmas present at the first-grade party. She promptly took it to the bewildered boy who had drawn her name and said, “You can take your present back. I don't want it.”
We know the saying, “It's not a gift until you give it away.” It might also be said a gift is not a gift until it is received, and graciously. However, it is not always easy to receive a gift with grace. You may feel undeserving or question the giver's motives. You may simply not like what has been chosen for you or feel it obligates you.
We can deny the giver the joy of giving by thinking of ourselves and responding only to the gift and not the giver. From birth our lives are built upon the fellowship of giving and receiving. Not just on special occasions, but each day we are the recipients of others' time, skill, experience, knowledge and personal gifts.
After glow:
There is a gift even greater than those given to us by our fellow man. This “For God so loved the world” gift is God's only son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16). To receive is “to take to oneself.” So to receive the gift of eternal life is to graciously receive the gift of God's Son.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to make it easy for others
to share the gift of themselves with me.
May I not underestimate the value
of the smallest favor, for I know
by receiving people and their gifts,
I learn better how to receive You
and the gift of Your Son.
Presents and Presence
Lord, Your presence
in the midst of those
who gather in Your Name
is the greatest gift
manger-hearts can ever claim.
Copied by permission from Daystar—Reflections, Prayers and Poems by Betty Spence, pages 20-21.
“Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV).
The six-year-old unwrapped her Christmas present at the first-grade party. She promptly took it to the bewildered boy who had drawn her name and said, “You can take your present back. I don't want it.”
We know the saying, “It's not a gift until you give it away.” It might also be said a gift is not a gift until it is received, and graciously. However, it is not always easy to receive a gift with grace. You may feel undeserving or question the giver's motives. You may simply not like what has been chosen for you or feel it obligates you.
We can deny the giver the joy of giving by thinking of ourselves and responding only to the gift and not the giver. From birth our lives are built upon the fellowship of giving and receiving. Not just on special occasions, but each day we are the recipients of others' time, skill, experience, knowledge and personal gifts.
After glow:
There is a gift even greater than those given to us by our fellow man. This “For God so loved the world” gift is God's only son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16). To receive is “to take to oneself.” So to receive the gift of eternal life is to graciously receive the gift of God's Son.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to make it easy for others
to share the gift of themselves with me.
May I not underestimate the value
of the smallest favor, for I know
by receiving people and their gifts,
I learn better how to receive You
and the gift of Your Son.
Presents and Presence
Lord, Your presence
in the midst of those
who gather in Your Name
is the greatest gift
manger-hearts can ever claim.
Copied by permission from Daystar—Reflections, Prayers and Poems by Betty Spence, pages 20-21.