My family is already discussing what gifts we want to give to whom. Our youngest daughter strives to not only pick out the most perfect gift for each person, but she considers the wrapping and presentation to be as important as the gift. Often, her gifts are so beautifully wrapped, I almost hate to disturb it to get to the gift inside.
How would she feel if, after handing me a gift, I set it down, went to my purse and pulled out a handful of dollars to pay her for the gift. I can tell you how she would feel. . .she would be hurt, she would be a bit ticked off and she would not understand why I felt I needed to pay for my gift.
From Merriam-Webster:
Gift: something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation.
The first step in accepting a gift is acknowledging it is a gift, that there is no compensation needed. In fact, if we give compensation for a gift, then it has become not a gift, but a wage. . .something we have earned.
We accept by faith that the person is willingly giving us whatever the gift is to be used for our enjoyment, use or benefit and we owe them nothing in return. How like our God who is infinite in mercy, grace and love to make our salvation not something we must strive to attain, but rather a gift freely given.
During this Christmas season, each time we see a gift, let us use that as a trigger to thank the Lord for His glorious gift of salvation, for the most wonderful Gift we could have ever been given - His dear Son, and for the eternal life which has been given to us through His life, death and resurrection.
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