Gifts are
implicitly given.
What is given we
cannot take any credit for. But we can give credit where it’s due!
What we take no
credit for we can also receive with gratitude, which requires something of us
that expends and exemplifies grace.
It isn’t always easy
to receive. We don’t want to owe someone and therefore prove vulnerable before
them. We would wish them to be blessed before we are, even though we know we
are worthy of their esteem.
To receive a gift of
love, comfortably well, we need courage — to stand in our ground of
vulnerability and to accept that we are worthy of their — and God’s — esteem.
***
As I said in opening
up, gifts are implicitly given.
God gives us the
gift of receiving a gift with gratitude, which is the grace of humility.
How else are we to
bless the person blessing us with the gift? They deserve their accolades for
their inspiration and creativity — their love.
Only God can give us
the grace of humility to stand the ground of gratitude; to not pass over our
response too quickly; to look the person in their face, seek eye contact, and,
with sincerity, thank them.
They have done
something worthy of the eternal realm — to ‘speak’ love in the actions of care.
And, with the gift of grace to receive the gift, we acknowledge their love with
our own love for them.
***
The gift of receiving love,
Is a gift given from above,
Receiving the love of another,
Is how to bless a
sister or brother.
***
Receiving tangible gifts from others
with grace is a gift in its own right. It requires humility to stand in our vulnerability
and sincerely offer the gift of thanks.
Only God can imbue us with the grace
that is courageously vulnerable enough to be humble.
***
This concept was revealed to me
during a season past where we, the pastors, were the needy ones. People gave
with such generous and Spirit-filled hearts. Most generously of all, they gave
us their prayers!
These lessons we learned — of taking
the gifts given with gracious aplomb that can come only as a gift from God — are
truly about the other half of love.
Love is not simply about giving; it’s
also about receiving. We love people
not only in how we give to them, but also in how we receive their love.
Indeed, it may be the most
magnanimous love we can give: to receive another’s love.
© 2015 S. J. Wickham.
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