Gifts

I arrived to today’s topic by several paths. One is a pronouncement I made after moving to a smaller house.  No gifts that require display space, or hang on walls, or fill bookshelves.  My plan is not to leave sorting requirements to my heirs.  Sideways, another  path is my continued digging in Spanish.  Like many an 9th grader, one year of Spanish was enough for me because I didn’t like the teacher.  (Consider this a belated apology.) After going to Peru, I started doing little bits, and what I really do well with is cognates – words that tie to another language’s word.  Not really close, yet regalo meaning gift made sense to me – something regal and special. Then I thought of what around me is a delight because of matching what I am, or its amazing usefulness, or just being quirky enough to bring a smile.

The matching me gift is a two plant greenery that was sent three years ago after David’s death.  It was from a teaching friend with a card that said, “I know you like things that grow.”  It just fit on the corner rim of my bathtub and has created a daily spa atmosphere. The amazing usefulness gift is the yellow plastic.  My son drawn to gadgets saw this on a TV ad.  It helps pop vacuum lids on various jars.  It is a real boon for arthritic older hands. Though not used daily, I still reach for it several times a week.   The quirky take on a strawberry appeared in the lunch box of a tutoring student.  She would place the prongs over the hull, push down the green stem, pull up and have a strawberry ready to pop into a waiting mouth. I thought it would be useful.  For me, a knife works better, but I smile every time I open the drawer.  

The best part of these mentioned is the call to mind of the giver as I notice or reach out to use.  So it is with my day of gratitude.  I live in a neighborhood of easy outdoor walking, I have children on the block to visit with even if six feet away, my needs are easily met, and daily, my health is still a gift.  All of these were provided by the One who has known me before I was born, who has provided the desires of my heart, and who gives the surprises that create joy in my day.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights.  James 1:17