There is a full range of holidays and holydays in our loves, special occasions that warrant gifts to those that we love. Whatever the relationship, you invariably seek to find a gift that is both meaningful and also expresses the depth of love and appreciation of the other.
How many anniversary gifts, birthday gifts or the like have we struggled over to find just the right gift for the right person. It is a real challenge to find something that fully expresses the love we feel. We want to say I love you in the most meaningful way.
From today's selection from Psalms, I was thinking about the gifts God has graced me with. I can easily think of myself and how wonderful life has been, how my wildest dreams have been exceeded. God has not been sparing in the amounts of love or graces I have been lavished with. I think anyone who takes the time to sit, listen and wonder knows that they too have been enormously graced. It is almost as if God has sought ways to show us just how much we are loved. What gifts have we received from our creator that expresses how much we are loved? I am humbled at the sheer volume and imagination God seems to use.
So the love affair is there. God loves me with that reckless abandon of which I often speak. What gift can I now grace God with? This is a bit problematic. God needs nothing and I am sure our gifts will always pale in comparison to what we have been graced with. Still, God has a capacity for understanding that we may not fully appreciate. For example Jesus is quick to note that the poor woman who gave a few sheckles gave more and showed more appreciation than the rich and haughty.
It would seem once again that we are not trying to think of the most expensive 'gift' but the most meaningful. Something with thought to show we are giving from who we are with all our heart and soul. Perhaps it is something that shows money is not the most important thing to us, perhaps it is as simple as love. Maybe some time alone dedicated to God? Worship? Maybe a retreat? Maybe just loving our brothers and sisters with as much as we can muster.
If we spend Lent trying to be the person God created us to be, to be fully human and live up to our fullest potential that is a noble effort and a gift to God. It is a show of our appreciation of the magnificence of the creation we are.
For thanksgiving and the gift of ourselves, fully alive, we pray
Psalm 33:1-3
Sing jyfully to the Lord, your righteousness;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully,
and shout for joy
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