40 Days 40 Gifts Day 6

Today I am reflecting on lighter things about giving and today it is a short one. How many of us who are in relationships (friendships, family relationships and love relationships) bemoan (even inwardly to ourselves) the fact that we would like to get more from the relationship – gift wise. Valentine’s day for example – we hope we will get given something. I know I would love to get flowers more often. Yesterday I bought something for Beert. As I was looking for the right thing (which incidentally turned out to be the wrong thing) I found myself reflecting on how much I get from our relationship. I don’t necessarily get flowers but I get so much more – friendship, someone I can rely on no matter what, someone to offload on when the day has been too much, someone who knows exactly how to make me laugh and cheer me up, and someone who respects me and loves me for who I am (even though I can be a handful, especially when I’m reflecting on giving) – so much more than flowers!

Is this perhaps what Jesus means when he tells us that in order to discover the kingdom of God we must be willing to let our possessions go? Perhaps he means that when we take our eyes off our possessions we get to glimpse the boundless blessings that God's kingdom has provided for us.

Lesson 6: When we are focused on getting we are focused on what we don’t have, when we give we realize how many blessings we do have (have I learned this lesson before – well I learned it again today in a whole new way – sometimes you need to be bashed over the head to learn these things!)
Posted by LaurenG on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

5 comment(s):

  1. what if you dont have that somone special to go home to ,yes you still have God but you dont have that physical touch , conversation , hug comforting smile etc
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  2. Very true. The point about giving is not to brag about what we do have though, it's about being grateful and opening up pathways of giving so that we can all receive what we need.

    In relation to your comment focusing on giving is not to say that there are never tough times when we focus on our loss. There is definitely a time to reflect on that and seek healing.

    And that is exactly when we need others in our lives and in our communities to be giving - because we can't always be giving, sometimes we need desperately to receive...

    I pray that you will receive the love of those around you - friends and family and community as well as God's love.
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  3. i know we will go through tough times and i know we will go through good times aswell ,but me as a person how do i make someone feel beter? when they really down when they really need it ,im not sure what you really mean with your second paragraph in relation to my comment? and the last paragraph i do have Gods love around me he always has been and always will be here i know that i also know hes with me now and will be in death (sometimes we hear people saying something and we presume its bragging but sometimes they just stating a fact )
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  4. In terms of what I mean by my second paragraph in relation to your comment - simply I'm stating that when we are in a position in our lives when we really need comfort and assurance and love, we should be able to turn to those in the church. So often churches are not approachable for people who really need to feel loved.

    I'm not sure what your particular situation is so it's more of a general comment but if you would like to talk more about your particular situation off a public forum my email address is laurenagraham@gmail.com. Hope we can connect on a more personal level.
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  5. hi there churches should be there for support i agree , i go to church to try and better my life and try and become a better christian not for others but for myself but every once and a while it is nice just to sit and chat and listen , once im ready i will contact you and if you up to listening and chatting i will open up as much as i can so thanks for the offer untill then or untill im ready i will have to stay anonymous ,
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