The GIFT That Keeps On Giving

Book shelves hold many useless things... until they’re either used or given away.

We are generally a very materially-rich people. We accumulate things and many times we get enjoyment and use out of them. But often things lose their lustre and we forget we even have them.

Then suddenly we think, when we’re struggling financially, “What do I have that I could perhaps sell-off?” We get into de-clutter mode. Off we then go to the pawn store to get what little they might offer us; it’s always less than we thought we’d get.

And whilst we’re out we think of the stuff nobody wants and we see an opportunity shop, so we stop by and cram those items into the bins at the side. The pawn store experience saw us belittled, but the visit past the opportunity shop was a cathartic experience... why? How can it be that ridding ourselves of those ‘useless’ items saw us more powerfully blessed?

We will never feel better than when we give ourselves away.

The gift that keeps on giving is the one that people find meets their momentary needs. For us to give what we can is God’s spoil of grace over us as we see the greater difference it makes to others’ lives. Suddenly that useless thing is now useful again, until it finds its way into a neglected corner again and it’s given away to the next person.

We can’t take any of this stuff with us.

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.