The Gift
Good Morning Girls! A few weeks ago I received a gift from a friend. It wasn't for my birthday. It wasn't for Mother's Day. It wasn't because I am the most awesomest (yeah I made up that word) Girl ever. I asked her why she gave me this gift, and she said "Because I love you and I wanted to."
It was so awesome because the gift was something I totally needed, but couldn't buy. I had no way of getting it on my own. It required someone else's kindness, love and generosity......and God provided that through the love of someone else! How awesome is that (have I already said awesome 3 times?). "How can I ever repay you?" I asked. "You can't!" she said. "it is a gift, and I want you to have it!"
I was so excited. I couldn't believe someone would do such a thing for me! I immediately started thinking of ways to pay her back. Problem was, nothing seemed good enough. There is nothing I could do to repay her. She assured me there was no payback needed. At first I was so excited, I accepted the generous gift......but then I started feeling guilty. "I should really pay her back somehow for this" is all I could think of. So I started sending her a few dollars here and there as I had it. In order to earn some payback money I started doing other things to earn my wages and pay her back. The first couple of times she received the money she tried to tell me to stop. She tried to tell me that she didn't want my money. She simply wanted me to enjoy the gift. but I didn't listen. I felt what she had given me was simply too much and I didn't deserve it. So, I kept on trying to earn money, and send it her way.
One day she called me and expressed her frustration and concern with my behavior. "Jen! It is a gift! A gift I want you to enjoy. A gift I gave you because I love you. A gift I gave you because I knew you could not live without it! A gift that is for you....and nobody can take it from you!" I sat there listening, letting the words sink into my head and my heart. I finally understood what my friend was saying. From then on, I determined to cherish my gift for what it was- a gift. an undeserved, precious, generous gift. A gift that no matter how I tried, I could never pay back. The best way to show my gratitude is to make good use of my gift. And that is what I purpose to do every day.
Does my behavior seem crazy to you? It is the way many people treat the most precious free gift they will ever receive! My question to you is: Have you been treating your free gift as something you need to payback? I can assure you, your money is no good there. All He wants is you!
Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Love, thanks, and great gifts to you all,
jen
It was so awesome because the gift was something I totally needed, but couldn't buy. I had no way of getting it on my own. It required someone else's kindness, love and generosity......and God provided that through the love of someone else! How awesome is that (have I already said awesome 3 times?). "How can I ever repay you?" I asked. "You can't!" she said. "it is a gift, and I want you to have it!"
I was so excited. I couldn't believe someone would do such a thing for me! I immediately started thinking of ways to pay her back. Problem was, nothing seemed good enough. There is nothing I could do to repay her. She assured me there was no payback needed. At first I was so excited, I accepted the generous gift......but then I started feeling guilty. "I should really pay her back somehow for this" is all I could think of. So I started sending her a few dollars here and there as I had it. In order to earn some payback money I started doing other things to earn my wages and pay her back. The first couple of times she received the money she tried to tell me to stop. She tried to tell me that she didn't want my money. She simply wanted me to enjoy the gift. but I didn't listen. I felt what she had given me was simply too much and I didn't deserve it. So, I kept on trying to earn money, and send it her way.
One day she called me and expressed her frustration and concern with my behavior. "Jen! It is a gift! A gift I want you to enjoy. A gift I gave you because I love you. A gift I gave you because I knew you could not live without it! A gift that is for you....and nobody can take it from you!" I sat there listening, letting the words sink into my head and my heart. I finally understood what my friend was saying. From then on, I determined to cherish my gift for what it was- a gift. an undeserved, precious, generous gift. A gift that no matter how I tried, I could never pay back. The best way to show my gratitude is to make good use of my gift. And that is what I purpose to do every day.
Does my behavior seem crazy to you? It is the way many people treat the most precious free gift they will ever receive! My question to you is: Have you been treating your free gift as something you need to payback? I can assure you, your money is no good there. All He wants is you!
Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Love, thanks, and great gifts to you all,
jen
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