There are some gifts so extravagant and so big that they can’t be wrapped in paper. They are the most beautiful of all gifts and they grow in value each time they are given. The cost of these gifts are monetarily free but will cost you more than you can earn in a life time and in a pinch, these gifts can save a life. The people closest to you will cherish these gifts more than anything you can make or buy, and if the gift is given wrapped in truth, your ability to afford such beautiful gifts will increase tenfold so that you can continue to give them. That’s how it works. That’s how extravagant the gifts are. They never wear out, never rot, never spoil, never smell horrid, never mold or get rusty. They are never forgotten and always utilized everyday of a person’s life. How amazing to be gifted in this way. The most giving people are those that hand these gifts out like a beautiful bouquet of flowers. When you give these gifts to your children, they become radiant human beings blessed beyond belief. So what are the five most extravagant gifts you can give?
1. Love- Yes, it sounds so cliche but its true. Without love it is impossible to give the other gifts. Without love, the other gifts become counterfeit knockoffs that any Tom, Dick or Harry can offer you on the streets. No, love must be real, true, deep and abiding for the other gifts to make any sense.
2. Grace- Grace is that timeless gift that allows others to be who they are unconditionally. I’m not talking about the “nobody’s perfect” speech, I’m talking about the kind of grace that allows you to tell the truth regardless of how they will take it. This is grace. Grace affords the other person the ability to act or be who they are in the midst of adversity, during great achievement and everything in between. The gift of grace is the gift of acceptance and value. Without real love, this gift can easily be reproduced with smirks and silence…but in the end it depreciates in value. Give real Grace and watch others grow, watch yourself grow!
3. Mercy- Mercy is one of those gifts you might be hesitant to give, but I promise if you do, you won’t be disappointed. Mercy is addictive, carries a huge price tag emotionally and can transform a person’s life. Without love, mercy means almost nothing, without grace, mercy can become a dirty word.
4. Patience- Patience seems to be in short supply around the world, which makes the gift of patience so extravagant. How many times have you heard people say this, “I have no patience for ignorance”, “I wish I were more patient” or “Why can’t you be patient with me? I’m not perfect.” The more you love the more patient you will become. There is no patience without love, and without grace patience becomes near impossible! Have mercy on someone close to you and give them the gift of your patience…you won’t regret it.
5. Forgiveness- Take a deep breath, exhale and close your eyes for moment. Clear your mind, breathe deep, close your eyes. That’s what forgiveness feels like. It feels like a cleansing breath, a deep full yawn where you close your eyes, take in all the air, stretch and exhale. That is how I can describe the feeling of forgiveness, and its something everyone can relate to. Forgiveness can only happen in the hearts of those who love deeply. You can purchase the counterfeit version of forgiveness but it will actually fester, rot, slander, create bitterness, act violently, act cruelly, be suspicious, find fault, rebel against God, and put others in harms way. Not forgiving harms your own soul. It sets you at odds with your creator and challenges His Love for you. Forgiveness has actually never been for the other person, its for you. When you forgive an offender, you are actually freeing yourself from hatred, bitterness, anger, hostility and from being perpetually a victim. Those who can’t forgive or have a hard time forgiving others will find themselves oddly suspicious of others, have deep trust issues, and find they can’t let go of past hurts. They have spiritually poisoned themselves. There is a saying about resentment and unforgiveness, “Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Its so true. The only person that is bound up and punished inside is the one that can’t forgive. They spend a lifetime making excuses because they were wronged, living without the cleansing power of forgiveness and remaining a victim instead of being the victor. Those who can’t forgive think they are in control by “never letting that happen again” but that’s when they find out just how out of control they truly are. When you can’t trust others, you’re suspicious all the time, looking over your shoulder for that next person who will harm you, think you have a thick shell and that nothing can harm you, think again! You have injured yourself, you’re bound up and out of control. You’ll have no real peace or rest until you begin to forgive others and yourself. To give the gift of forgiveness, love, grace, mercy and patience must also be given to seal the deal. If you can’t give forgiveness you won’t receive the value of this most extravagant gift. It is the ultimate gift for-giving!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, we would all be better off by giving and receiving these type of gifts on a daily basis.
Hi, I love this but I would say you forgot humor. I feel I life without humor is not worth living..But hey thats me