It's The Giving Season
Christmas is known as the season of giving. Much of our giving at Christmas time is expected. I wouldn't dream of not giving my children or grandchildren gifts on their birthdays or at Christmas time. That has become a built-in part of who I am.
But when I give unexpectedly, things get fun. In most cases, the person receiving the gift is excited by the surprise.
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of giving a surprise gift to my stepmom who has dementia. This past summer, she and my father moved back to Michigan to be near my sisters and me for the next stage of their lives. My stepmom didn’t remember that she had given all her jewelry and jewelry box to her daughter before moving up north. She was asking what had happened to her things and we tried to explain, but she would soon forget.
My sisters and I decided to go through our jewelry boxes to give her some items we thought she’d enjoy. Then a friend had a floor style jewelry box that she was giving away. So we picked up the jewelry box and delivered it to my stepmom along with a number of necklaces, bracelets, and pins.
We were each taken by surprise at her joy when she received these things. When my step-mom asked us to set the jewelry box up in the living room instead of the bedroom, we knew she was blessed by our gift. She took joy in looking at the jewelry box. She was giddy with excitement, which in turn blessed us.
There is something about giving that blesses both the person giving and the person receiving.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
bring an offering and come before Him,
bow down to the Lord in holy array.
Although this verse is not a traditional Christmas verse, it provoked my thinking about this being the Giving Season.
Chapter 16 of 1 Chronicle is a chapter of praise and thanksgiving, David is reminding the people, yet again, to tell of the greatness of God—give him what He is due. It is a reminder for us to tell others and tell the Lord how you feel about Him. It is due Him.
When we bring an offering to the Lord, it’s not that we are bringing something to God that He is in desperate need of, but rather, an acknowledgment to Him that everything we possess belongs to Him.
The gift I gave to my stepmom didn’t cost me anything yet still, the one who received it was so very grateful.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name and don’t forget to bring an offering. And you don't have to be like me. Your gifts to the Lord should cost you something.
After all, It's The Giving Season!
But when I give unexpectedly, things get fun. In most cases, the person receiving the gift is excited by the surprise.
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of giving a surprise gift to my stepmom who has dementia. This past summer, she and my father moved back to Michigan to be near my sisters and me for the next stage of their lives. My stepmom didn’t remember that she had given all her jewelry and jewelry box to her daughter before moving up north. She was asking what had happened to her things and we tried to explain, but she would soon forget.
My sisters and I decided to go through our jewelry boxes to give her some items we thought she’d enjoy. Then a friend had a floor style jewelry box that she was giving away. So we picked up the jewelry box and delivered it to my stepmom along with a number of necklaces, bracelets, and pins.
My sisters and I decided to go through our jewelry boxes to give her some items we thought she’d enjoy. Then a friend had a floor style jewelry box that she was giving away. So we picked up the jewelry box and delivered it to my stepmom along with a number of necklaces, bracelets, and pins.
We were each taken by surprise at her joy when she received these things. When my step-mom asked us to set the jewelry box up in the living room instead of the bedroom, we knew she was blessed by our gift. She took joy in looking at the jewelry box. She was giddy with excitement, which in turn blessed us.
There is something about giving that blesses both the person giving and the person receiving.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
bring an offering and come before Him,
bow down to the Lord in holy array.
Although this verse is not a traditional Christmas verse, it provoked my thinking about this being the Giving Season.
Chapter 16 of 1 Chronicle is a chapter of praise and thanksgiving, David is reminding the people, yet again, to tell of the greatness of God—give him what He is due. It is a reminder for us to tell others and tell the Lord how you feel about Him. It is due Him.
When we bring an offering to the Lord, it’s not that we are bringing something to God that He is in desperate need of, but rather, an acknowledgment to Him that everything we possess belongs to Him.
The gift I gave to my stepmom didn’t cost me anything yet still, the one who received it was so very grateful.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name and don’t forget to bring an offering. And you don't have to be like me. Your gifts to the Lord should cost you something.
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