At this time of year, speaking of gifts evokes images of shiny paper and bright bows. We think of everything from chia pets to boxes of chocolate.
But St. Paul spoke of the gifts that are our innate abilities, plus the spiritual strengths our journey develops, as specific components of God's unique plan for us.
Today I stopped by to speak briefly with a new friend. She has many gifts and strengths, but one of my favorite is that when she smiles, she truly lights up the room. Her eyes twinkle, her skin glows, her smile sparkles. This is not because she has a worry free life for she has her full share of challenges. It comes from her truly kind and generous heart that shines God's love on those she meets. Does she think of this as a ministry? Maybe not, since lots of us miss the blessings our gifts and strengths, offered to others with modesty and without expectation of reward, shower on folks we may not even know.
So for folks who live lives of quiet desperation, sad, lonely, without hope and feeling invisible most of the time and like a target the rest of the time, the day is an uphill climb. God herds those folks our way so that a kind word or genuine smile or a cheerful greeting with eyes that actually connect become a blessing that is a true Christmas miracle amid the stress and chaos.
So today I continue to smile with memory of her warm and delightful ministry to me during a very challenging week. Thank you, my friend.
I thank you, God, for each person who takes a moment to be Your Hands and Feet, sharing Your Love in such gentle and restoring ways. AMEN
Romans 12: 4-8 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
But St. Paul spoke of the gifts that are our innate abilities, plus the spiritual strengths our journey develops, as specific components of God's unique plan for us.
Today I stopped by to speak briefly with a new friend. She has many gifts and strengths, but one of my favorite is that when she smiles, she truly lights up the room. Her eyes twinkle, her skin glows, her smile sparkles. This is not because she has a worry free life for she has her full share of challenges. It comes from her truly kind and generous heart that shines God's love on those she meets. Does she think of this as a ministry? Maybe not, since lots of us miss the blessings our gifts and strengths, offered to others with modesty and without expectation of reward, shower on folks we may not even know.
So for folks who live lives of quiet desperation, sad, lonely, without hope and feeling invisible most of the time and like a target the rest of the time, the day is an uphill climb. God herds those folks our way so that a kind word or genuine smile or a cheerful greeting with eyes that actually connect become a blessing that is a true Christmas miracle amid the stress and chaos.
So today I continue to smile with memory of her warm and delightful ministry to me during a very challenging week. Thank you, my friend.
I thank you, God, for each person who takes a moment to be Your Hands and Feet, sharing Your Love in such gentle and restoring ways. AMEN
Romans 12: 4-8 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
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