THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
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Some of the best things I’ve ever received in life weren’t the things I was hoping or looking for. In fact, it was the things I didn’t get that taught me the most in life. We live in a world where everything is presented to our children as rights of passage, which probably does the most harm.
Most kids have the same wants and desires; we were no different. We had the basics, clothing and shelter, although if it would have been up to us, the clothing would have been much different. We had occasional bicycles until stolen or broken. We got to go to the movies sometimes, to the roller rink when it was en vogue, and the basics to play sports.
We had enough, in fact probably more than enough, but like most other humans, we wanted more. I find it telling of human nature how children can never receive too much of anything. Regardless of how many toys a spoiled child has, they always want more. When a new toy is given, the desire for it wears off usually fairly quickly.
I also find it telling of human nature how a child often loves to show off and share the things they take the time to create. Whether it be drawings, colorings, things they’ve built, and the like. The gratification process of working to create something starts young. For some of us that desire never leaves us.
“I wish I had a motorcycle”! I shared with my dad on numerous occasions. One of his standard answers was, “Boy – you wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which one fills up first”! Point made… Note to self; don’t waste time wishing…
As we got older the wording and understanding changed a bit, but not the object. The “I wish,” became the, “I want.” One of our dad’s other favorite sayings was, “You can be or have anything you want”! – “You want it, you gotta work for it”!
Given a choice, little kids and big kids alike, will choose the free gift every time. In our society how many adults would choose any differently? It seems the ones who are given the most without cost or effort are the ones who society has cheated out of their real birthright.
In many cases, the ones who never have to use the most precious gifts in this life, like patience, determination and perseverance, are the ones who miss out on what those attributes create. They create more than objects for the benefit of many, they also create a gratification that continues to increase in intensity from the little things produced as a child.
Those standard answers by parents are never the things children want to hear, but those standard answers coupled with the living examples of them are some of the greatest gifts children never get, at least not at the time. Talk about a gift that keeps giving… I’d say these qualify. Something to think about this Christmas season. Are the gifts we give going to last a couple months or a lifetime?
I’ll bet for most of us who go out of our way to get our children the things we never had, have not stopped to consider and count the blessings of a simple life.
Starting with the things we never had…
Monday, December 5, 2011 @ 3:14 am
Well done floyd. I think part of the problem in this is that we are an instant gratification society. Things like hard work and patience and saving are words that tend to be foreign to us. i was not taught patience by my father (especially). I “inherited” the “My car is getting a few years on it so guess I will just get me a new one” gene. While I have matured, it has taken me years to learn to keep and wait. Unfortunately, I did not do a very good job of teaching my children those principles. Thanks for a challenging post.
Monday, December 5, 2011 @ 10:35 am
Thanks Bill. I’m not near perfect either, I guess not many of us are, but we are striving and hopefully getting better. I have finally figured out the best part of wanting something… Is the wanting something…
Monday, December 5, 2011 @ 7:13 am
This reminds me of the message our pastor gave yesterday. One point was “the more I have the less I’m satisfied.”
Great thoughts here Floyd.
Monday, December 5, 2011 @ 10:37 am
Thanks Amy. Great point, the more we have of this world, the more we are pulled by the things of it, the stuff becomes the idols. Soon if unchecked we find ourselves slaves to the idols.
Monday, December 5, 2011 @ 3:05 pm
So you’ve got me thinking, Floyd. How long will my gifts last that I’m giving this year? Some longer than others–a memory book for my m-i-l; a year-long magazine subscription for my s-i-l; but the true gifts–of spending time together and sharing God’s love–I hope those outlast everything else.
Monday, December 5, 2011 @ 3:26 pm
I think they will outlast everything else. Funny that in the end, it’s never the things that took up the time and desire of a young heart. It is the things of God that can’t be purchased with money. Spending time together is the perfect gift. Well said.
Monday, December 5, 2011 @ 7:47 pm
We can be so greedy and ridiculously selfish. It’s a fight to walk differently, but we are new creatures. I thought about the free gift of salvation as I was reading your words and the paradox hit me again: it’s all free but it will cost you everything. What we ‘lose’ can’t even be compared to what we gain in Him. Thanks Floyd.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 @ 6:51 am
Good point Jason. I think what we lose begins to make us more like Christ. It’s hard to have heavenly eyes inside of this flesh. What we gain is immeasurable in the flesh too I think.
Monday, December 5, 2011 @ 10:34 pm
Bravo! Yes, our Microwave mentality gets us in trouble!
I was just reading The Dumbest Generation and it points to the fact that most children using social media have little tolerance for reading anything in depth, and they, themselves have little depth or patience. Everything has to be in bytes, 140 characters or code. Frustration levels are high and the ability to cope without “being connected” is nearly non-existent.
Temperance is NOT something with which any of like to deal, but deal we must. Sounds like your dad was very wise and that wisdom was also imparted to you!
We must ask God to give us the desires of our heart, He will place the things there that HE wants there. We will confirm to His will and purpose once that’s done!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 @ 6:54 am
Thanks Nancy. Asking for “anything” in His name, I think starts with having His heart. I don’t think we can be in HIs will or name if we’re asking for something solely from our flesh.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 @ 2:31 am
Working for things you need or want, causes you to appreciate them more. At least it did us. We saved and patiently waited until we could buy what ever it was. We never knew what credit was as kids and we did not receive an allowance. So many toys and items are made of plastic and break so easily. If they last until New years day, it will be a miracle. I tried to teach our children to respect their toys, and usually they did.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 @ 6:56 am
Thanks Hazel, I’m with you. The true gifts from God long far beyond the material things of this world. The true gifts, like God himself we don’t need a suitcase to carry, they’re with us, inside us at all times.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 @ 8:51 am
This post. . such truth. It is so hard to navigate how much to “give” while still teaching how important it is to “work for” and most importantly how important it is to think of others more than oneself.
Instant gratification teaches everything that we wouldn’t want our children to grow into. And I pray that I can show my sons this Truth.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 @ 6:44 pm
I hear you Danelle, It’s not easy and I’m not suggesting I’ve got it all figured out, I just try to remember the things that are truly valuable. I know you and your husband will do what God puts in your heart.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 @ 11:59 am
This season I’m trying hard to give the gift of faith. That is one of the things that a lot of people never use, and it is certainly a most precious gift. I have some friends and even some family, facing the hardest times of their life and they are both walking away from their faith. I want to pray and have enough faith for all of us this Christmas.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 @ 6:47 pm
Wow, I’m sorry to hear that your friends and family are having tough times. I’m praying for you to be able to speak and act faith and love given by God into their lives this Christmas.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 @ 6:52 pm
Thank you for your prayers Floyd, what an amazing gift you are giving me….priceless.
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 2:29 pm
Well said, I know I wanted a lot of things as a child I never got and came to realize it was probably for the best. I think the biggest difference from then and now is, we wanted, but never really expected , whereas today it is not so in most cases.
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 4:22 pm
I’m with you Brad. I almost feel like we’re stealing from the potential of our children’s generation due to our own weaknesses. Excellent point, thanks.