This weekend we heard about the wise men who traveled to see the baby Jesus so that they could worship him and present him gifts. The wise men gave some pretty incredible gifts didn't they? But God is the ultimate gift giver. He gave us a person in the form of a small baby. A saviour. The gift of the possibility of an eternal relationship with himself. WOW! How can we top that? We can't is the simple answer. But we can use it as a model. We can give loads of gifts, we can spend lots of money but perhaps the best gift we can give is ourselves.
The gift of time and relationship is not always easy. It is often inconvienent. I suspect that is why perhaps we try to buy our way out of it sometimes. But we were made to worship God and to be in fellowship with him and others. We slowly shrivel without that relationship factor.
How can you give the gift of time? How can you deepen your relationships with others or perhaps start some new ones? Don't make it complicated or you won't follow through. Ask me how I know?!
Joshua has become quite the hunter/sportsman. He enjoys going out with my brother to shoot ducks or targets. He practices with his bow in the yard. This year he asked for an Airsoft gun (they shoot rubber bb's and are more for fun than sport). I was unsettled about his request but if you know Josh, you know his list is never long. I don't want to squash is enthusiasm for hunting or being a sportsman but I did not like the idea of a bunch of boys shooting at each other, even if it was just for fun. The boys have Airsoft wars similar to paintball wars. After much thought and discussion, we decided that instead of purchasing the gun he asked for, we would buy a membership at the local sportsman club. Greg and Josh can shoot skeet or trap, they can practice archery or partcipate in a variety of activities they offer at the club. While this will allow Josh to do some of the things he enjoys doing, it is more a gift of time. Father/son time. I think this will be much more meaningful than his original request. It will cost more time than money but money can not buy time.
If there are relationships you really want to invest in, think of ways you can spend time doing something they enjoy. Join a bowling league together, join scouts with your child, take a craft or art class together, join the Y as a family and go swimming together.
Maybe you are looking to do something on a smaller scale for a friend or neighbor. You could invite someone over for dinner. I bet we all know someone who might be lonely this season. Maybe they lost a loved one, went through a divorce, are empty nesters for the first time or they just live alone. What? Your house is a mess? You don't have the time? Then how about dropping by a friends house with a hot pizza and a bottle of soda this week?
Ask God to show you a person or family that you can gift with your time. Don't stop there, ask him to give you ideas for how to give yourself relationally to them. He'll answer and you will be blessed. I know it.
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