This morning – Advent Day 14 – I’d like to pick up again on the idea of “What can I give him, empty as I am” (See Dec 11 post, In The Bleak Midwinter).
We all come equipped with gifts. God has gifted each and every one of us with passions, skills, abilities and sensibilities, a countless variety of giftedness. These are gifts that we either use, or ignore; share, or keep for ourselves; celebrate, or run away from; hone, or neglect.
What interests me today (and this is the direct Advent connection), is the idea that these gifts were not only entrusted to us for the benefit of the World, they are crafted into our creation as individuals so that we can give them back to God.
So there are three uses for our gifts (and probably in this order):
- To glorify God
- To serve humankind
- To enjoy
WE HAVE SO MUCH TO GIVE! In my Wednesday column I concluded that the answer to the question, “What can I give him?” is, “I must give my heart.”
Today I’m expanding the answer to this. “Give God all that I am; celebrating every gift that God has entrusted to my care is a fitting response to the coming of the Christ Child.”
This is why I have included the picture of our talented daughter, Naomi, taken at last night’s gallery opening in Connecticut. Her giftedness was on display, and I see it – in many ways – as a prayer.
You see, I believe that one gift we can bring to Jesus at this time of the year is, quite simply, our very best. In other words, doing our very best, letting our abilities shine, bringing our creativity and passion to the table in any setting, is a gift to – and in honor of – God.
When I write this blog; when I write marketing copy for a corporate client; when I meet with friends; when I cook; when I interact with people who help me in the store; when I teach; when I play the guitar during a quiet moment at home. All these times and places are opportunities to honor God by offering my giftedness to my Creator, by sharing my passion with this world, and by living my best for my own enjoyment.
When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (Colossians 3:23)
Because it all belongs to God – DEREK