Gifted

The idea of the gift goes back centuries.  But gifts don’t mean the same thing today as they once did.  For one thing people have so much more to choose from than they used to, which makes getting a truly unique, thoughtful, meaningful, original gift less likely.  With so much available less thought is put into the equation of choice.  An innocent gift can send all kinds of messages—some you didn’t mean to send.

There are so many ways to give gifts; gift certificates, gift cards, gift baskets, the list is endless.  Then there’s re-gifting.  This animal takes on a whole new identity within itself.  Re-gifting sometimes causes economists, psychologists, and philosophers to scratch their confused heads—not to mention the goods carrier.  Next, enter the legalities of exchangeability of the gift which becomes technically an obstacle.  Hence, the very idea of the soul of the gift itself has been lost.  One feels like they need an attorney to
return an item.  The whole process becomes a monetary transactional contract between you and the merchandiser.  This is where the gift loses its character as a gift and becomes merely an item, a product, a commodity—not a true gift.  The thought was originally there, where did you go wrong?  You had thoughtful intentions. Your heart was in the right place.  Stop!  Hold everything!  Gifts should be about people participating imaginatively in each other’s lives—that meaning is what gives gifts their social meaning, sentimental value, lovingness, originality and wanting to share something without getting anything in return. 

In “The Gift of the Magi” that master of the American short story, O. Henry, tells us of a couple sacrificing their greater treasures for each other.  The husband pawns his gold watch to buy his wife a hair adornment comb she long desired for her beautiful long hair, which he adores; she cuts and sell her hair to buy him a platinum fob for his watch which she adores and was an heirloom from his father.  Reduced to its economic elements, the transaction is a disaster.  By risking everything, the couples lose everything.  But, as O. Henry notes, mathematics gives us the wrong moral to the story.  Our instincts know there are lucky people in this world.

“A Gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth”.  Proverbs 17:8   Want more? 

The Gift of God….  “For God so loved the world, that he gave [gifted] his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

His Unspeakable Gift…”Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.”  2 Corinthians 9:

My Beloved…”Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight.”  Matthew 12:15

Mine Elect…”Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.”  Isaiah 42:1

The Chosen of God…”The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.  They said,”He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One””.  Luke 23:35

Thy Salvation…"For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people”.  Luke 2:30

The Redeemer…”The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.”  Isaiah 59:20

The Blessed…”May this name endure forever, may it continue as long as the sun”.  Psalm 72:17

The Most Blessed Forever…”Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence”.  Psalm 21:6

Humanities greatest gift is Jesus Christ.  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”. James 1:17

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