| 1 Peter 4:10 – “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” |
I have a few vivid memories of my early childhood, and one special time was my 3rd birthday. My parents had 5 children within 8 years of marriage, and money was often tight. As the 3rd girl in the family, I had mostly hand-me-down clothes and very few new toys. But on my 3rd birthday I remember opening a present that was a brand-new doll. She was wearing a blue satin dress with lots of lace, and she had blond hair and blue eyes. She even had that ‘new doll smell’ — I thought she was the most beautiful doll I had ever seen. The only other thing I really remember of that day was that I wanted to share my present with a friend who lived across the street. The town where we lived at the time was quite small and my mom stood on the front steps and watched as I crossed the street and knocked on my friend’s door. My 3-year-old heart was so excited and knew that this gift needed to be shared.
As the years have passed, I have received many more gifts – some from family and friends, and many from God. I have come to recognize God’s gifts in my life, and I need to do more than just acknowledge them or use them when or how I see fit. Whether tangible gifts of creativity and music, or emotional gifts of empathy and compassion, God expects me to not only be excited about them, but to enthusiastically rush to share the good news of salvation and his love with others. I am to use my gifts to further his kingdom, and to cultivate relationships with others that develop because of them.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all the gifts you have given me over the years. You have lavished favors on me – both big and small – and I am so appreciative. Help me to be even more excited about these gifts, and to develop them further to share with others. Amen.
– Betty Gossell
