Delores Liesner
Activating Faith in everyday life
Gifts I Didn’t Know I Wanted
I heard a little clip of an interview on the radio. A little girl was asked, “Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas.” Her reply was amazing.
“No, I didn’t,” she said, pausing – “but it’s not MY birthday, is it?”
I didn’t get all I wanted for Christmas either. As a matter of fact, I was mystified that my husband (who’d been excited earlier in the month after announcing he knew the perfect gift for me) got me nothing from my list of wants. As a matter of fact when I opened his gift it was a what were you thinking moment.
It was a DVR player.
We’d just had a discussion about possibly changing our internet provider and they wanted us to sign up for TV too and we said no, we barely watch TV and don’t bring a DVR because we wouldn’t use it.
When I asked Ken why he had been so excited about this gift, his response shamed me. I’d whined for some time that our old DVD player would not play a lot of our movies. Apparently it was too old for some of the newer formats. Well this player would allow that! Once I realized what its potential was, I was thrilled (and apologetic for my less than enthusiastic response when opening it)
He gave me what I didn’t realize I wanted and needed.
The incident reminded me of other gifts I sometimes haven’t appreciated at first, or even understood their potential. I’m speaking of the spiritual gifts given to us by Jesus.
Remember Ephesians 4:8 “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” As Jesus rose to Heaven, he gave gifts to us. He loves to give gifts. He loves it too when we gratefully receive His gifts and use them.
Some of His gifts were on my wish list. Others were surprises. All had several things in common:
They were very expensive gifts
They are practical gifts
They are each custom designed for me.
They all came gift-wrapped in love.
And like my husband’s gift – some are gifts I didn’t realize I wanted and needed.
What gifts have you received from Jesus? Are you using them?
Be the Miracle! – with journaling pages
Delores Liesner: Author
American Christian Fiction Writers Association
Delores Liesner 