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December 6, 2007
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
The Best Gifts, by Ron Rose
Truth is, the best gifts of all are not meant to be kept or even
possessed; they are intended to be given a way ... to be passed on from
person to person.
Lewis Hyde, author of "The Gift," tells of a Massachusetts' pilgrim who
is invited into a Native American lodge and welcomed with a ritual
smoking of the peace pipe. After the ritual is completed, the Native
Americans give the symbolic pipe to the pilgrim. The pipe is a peace
offering and is traditionally circulated among the local tribes,
staying in each lodge for a time, but always given away sooner or
later. However, our pilgrim didn't know about the tradition. In his
world, he now owned a valuable treasure ... his own personal peace
pipe.
Months later, in a surprise visit, the leaders of a neighboring tribe
shocked the pilgrim with the expectation that the pipe would given to
them.
The pilgrim called them "Indian givers"! (Yes, that's where the phrase
comes from, according to Hyde.) In his mind, these poor natives just
didn't grasp the growing application and appreciating of "private
property." In their minds, this poor pilgrim didn't grasp the true
meaning of the gift.
Like the pilgrim, we tend to hold on to our gifts too long. I think
sometimes we even try to possess them. We try to keep them safe and
hold them tight, for fear we might lose them. This focus on self misses
the point altogether. As the apostle Paul reminds us, "... the Lord
Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (Acts
20:35 TNIV).
What gifts has God given you that need to be shared?
One thing is for sure: the gifts we receive from God are all meant to
be given. They are not ours to keep, they must be shared: they must be
kept in circulation to bless others.
Do you have possessions that really need to be on the move, that need
to be given to others? What gifts has God given you that need to be
shared -- things like grace, forgiveness, second-chances, love, stuff,
time, attention, tenderness, patience, and talent?
Isn't it time for some of your closely guarded private possessions to
find a new home? You've been given a lot, so doesn't that mean you have
a lot to give? Get creative and turn loose of what you "own" and find
the greater grace in giving.
---------
(c) 2007 FaithFitness and Ron Rose <ron@faithfitness.net>.
RELATED LINKS:
* Giving Back to God What is Already His
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200612/20061203_whatishis.html
* Giving without Regret
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200503/20050325_withoutregret.html
* The Joy of Giving
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200611/20061115_joygiving.html
* Faith Fitness
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200712/20071206_best gifts.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
SEE THE MORNING, by Chris Tomlin
Award-winning artist Tomlin offers a whole new set of soul-inspiring
easy-to-sing songs about God's faithfulness.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
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