It’s gift-giving season once again. Everyone is excited about the gifts they are going to receive this Christmas. But for me, I am not expecting anything.
Let me just tell you of a recent experience, which has something to do also with my own attitude. I don’t really expect gifts. Not on Christmas, and not on my birthday. I grew up not expecting anything. But someone gifted me something on my recent birthday. Prior to opening the gift, I was so excited. But it died down when I saw the stain on the white shorts. Why such stained gift? Is it a mockery or something? I wanted to ask more questions, and even came to conclusion that probably the gift would show the character of the giver. I sat down on the floor reexamining the gift, and its stain. What was on their mind when they wrapped this? Were they thinking of me?
But then I saw a poor reflection of myself. Many times I gave for the sake of giving, not even caring if the recipient like the gift or not. Yeah, it took a while for me to accept it. But it’s not the value of the gift that really matters. It’s the gesture and the heart of the giver. I do not have the right to judge the giver because of the gift that failed my expectations. By the way, the shorts looked new again after I bleached it.
----- ooo ----- ooo ----- ooo -----
Some 2,000 years ago, God gave us a gift, His Son Jesus Christ. It’s because of His love He gave us this gift so that those who receive Him will not perish but have eternal life. But the people at that time were expecting a different Savior, someone who can rally them against Rome. And so they rejected the gift and crucified Him instead. But it’s part of the overall plan. That gift is available for all of us today, and all we have to do is accept it. It’s not a stained gift, but can surely wash away the stains in our lives.
Let me just tell you of a recent experience, which has something to do also with my own attitude. I don’t really expect gifts. Not on Christmas, and not on my birthday. I grew up not expecting anything. But someone gifted me something on my recent birthday. Prior to opening the gift, I was so excited. But it died down when I saw the stain on the white shorts. Why such stained gift? Is it a mockery or something? I wanted to ask more questions, and even came to conclusion that probably the gift would show the character of the giver. I sat down on the floor reexamining the gift, and its stain. What was on their mind when they wrapped this? Were they thinking of me?
But then I saw a poor reflection of myself. Many times I gave for the sake of giving, not even caring if the recipient like the gift or not. Yeah, it took a while for me to accept it. But it’s not the value of the gift that really matters. It’s the gesture and the heart of the giver. I do not have the right to judge the giver because of the gift that failed my expectations. By the way, the shorts looked new again after I bleached it.
----- ooo ----- ooo ----- ooo -----
Some 2,000 years ago, God gave us a gift, His Son Jesus Christ. It’s because of His love He gave us this gift so that those who receive Him will not perish but have eternal life. But the people at that time were expecting a different Savior, someone who can rally them against Rome. And so they rejected the gift and crucified Him instead. But it’s part of the overall plan. That gift is available for all of us today, and all we have to do is accept it. It’s not a stained gift, but can surely wash away the stains in our lives.
15 comments:
very nice post, i agree that the best and perfect gift is from above, He is Jesus who is able to keep us and save us! let celebrate his birthday with a grateful heart.
ako din dati ganun mag-isip, yung tipong magtatanong pa dun sa nagbigay kung bakit ganun lang or ganyan lang. totoo nga, it was their effort that matters, baka di natin lang alam di rin pala nakita yung stain na yun or we just neglect these gifts because we're above over something that the lesser things in our level are of no value.
a simple thank you would be enough to put some smile on them. and yeah, it's Jesus' birthday we ought to celebrate.
i posted something like this sometime ago in my tabulas blog... my "maswerte ka!" entry, and my not so late entry, "bakit masaya si 'ardeepineda?"...
just dont forget to thank God for everything! =)
yan ang tinatawag na "gift of love" :)
a gift...its not about the outer value..,its about someone whos valuing you :)
hello again,Lazarus!
This is the very reason why I don't give gifts if I don't feel like giving. I make it a point that the gift is truly personal and given with love.
Kaya those persons who've gotten gifts from me, from the heart yun.
I also don't expect to receive gifts either on Christmas or on my birthday. Masaya na ako sa call or text hehe
This is a very nice reflection on this season, Lazarus. I also don't get a lot of gifts and I don't expect to receive them anyway, but I am really happy when I get one. :)
So true. It is always great to be reminded that we do have that Great Gift that surpasses all other gifts.
Very nice post Lazarus! I agree. :)
the perfect gift from above is eternal life through Jesus Christ. thats the real reason why we celebrate Christmas :)
I just hope that our christmas will be merry and bright!
I also hope that each one of us received or will receive that special gift from above.
God bless us all!
merry Christmas! i hope you'll have plenty of gifts
merry christmas to you and to your family, lazarus.
this post somewhat resembles the idea about gift giving. some people cannot just be grateful for what was given them. it is so unethical to ask somebody why it was the gift that was given. the first thing to do when we accept gifts is to say thank you. if it does not fit our taste, what we should do is be quiet. we have the option to keep or dispose of it.
Jesus is sometimes the undervalued gift by many.
And after many miracles Jesus did to mankind, only one returned to say thank you. Mga NON ingrata ano?
even today, not many apprecite His ransom sacrifice.they took it like a pinch on salt.
We can be ungrateful sometimes. But after some reflections, or at least given a few more minutes, we will learn to see beyond the gift.
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