Seriously, if you are like me, you may find yourself slightly behind on your list of gifts to secure for those friends and family you desire to bless. This does not necessarily mean that I am a procrastinator. Nor does it mean that I am inherently irresponsible.
Rather, what it means is that, sometimes, the search for just the perfect gift to give someone can be frustrating, especially in this day and age when everybody seems to already have everything.
I was glad, therefore, when the Lord seemed to direct me recently to a quote from Charles Swindoll in his book titled Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life:
Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value: Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, "I love you." Give something away - anonymously. Forgive someone who has treated you wrong. Turn away wrath with a soft answer. Visit someone in a nursing home. Apologize if you were wrong. Be especially kind to someone with whom you work. Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy.
Can I be honest? As soon as I read this quote, my quandary over what to give certain people suddenly got a lot easier. In fact, I have already decided who’s about to get what!
Having now read this post, and Swindoll’s quote, I hope you have benefited in much the same way! As Jesus Himself told us: “Freely you have received; now freely give!”
QUOTATION SOURCE: Charles Swindoll, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing, 1994), pp. 400-401.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/matthew/10-8.htm.