gifts

Let’s get right to it. I hate carrying groceries into the house! I have owned this disdain ever since I was a kid. I think my mother had a lot to do with the development of my attitude. I would try to carry everything all in one trip. My mother didn’t trust me not to smash, crush, or break things, so she worked hard at controlling how I accomplished this awful chore. I was not too fond of that.

My case for getting it done expeditiously suffered a setback when some glass Coke bottles fell out of their carton and broke on the sidewalk, creating a big, sticky mess. Of course, she blamed me and wouldn’t listen to my defense when I tried to show her that the cardboard carton was wet. Therefore weakening it and allowing the bottles to break through.

Even after escaping her controlling parenting habits, I still found myself hating this chore. I would go grocery shopping as little as possible. Some of the places I lived as an adult did not make this activity any less frustrating.

So why am I boring you with one of my favorite pet peeves? To illustrate a point as to how much God loves us and cares, even about the things we don’t enjoy doing. Prove it? I will. As I was about to retire from AT&T, I studied my options and decided it was best to move back to my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Housing is reasonable, and my father was sick, and I knew he would need help.

I started looking at houses online from Chicago. I found one I liked immediately, as to where it was located and how it looked. I studied the seven photos of the interior and finally figured out the floor plan. My architectural background helped. I got so excited when I realized that the kitchen door opened to the garage. My real estate agent tried to talk me out of purchasing the house because it had a lot of little issues. But something inside my spirit kept bringing me back to it.

When the seller lowered the price $16,000, I told my agent, “I want this house!” I signed a contract without even looking at the house in person. When I did walk through it, I loved it. After I closed, I felt so blessed by God. This house was about to become my favorite home. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, when I come home with groceries, I back the car into the garage. After I open the kitchen door and the trunk, I grab my groceries, turn my body, and place them right into the kitchen. It doesn’t matter if they are in paper or plastic; there are no steps involved! God truly blessed me.

God cares so much about you and your life. Even what may seem like small things. And He loves to give his children good gifts. Even a house that will eliminate your favorite pet peeve!

But [even] the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows. Luke 12:7 (AMPC)

You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? Mat. 7:11 (MSG)

Imagine yourself sitting at a table participating in a dinner party. Everyone is having side conversations while eating. You hear this gentle roar with the clinking of silverware on the plates. Waiters are moving about refilling drinks and ensuring everyone has what they need to enjoy their meal.

Suddenly, you hear a commotion and see people pushing back from a table and others jumping up. Still, a few gathered fine cloth napkins, and two kneeled on the floor. You’re not sure what happened.

⁶We all have gifts. They differ according to the grace God has given to each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it according to the faith you have. ⁷If your gift is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. ⁸Is it encouraging others? Then encourage them. Is it giving to others? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully. Rom. 12:6-8 (NIV)

You now figured out what had happened. One of the dinner participants spilled their water. Almost immediately, you witness individuals reacting according to how they are gifted.

Those who serve gathered the napkins, and other servers got on the floor to soak up the water. A giver took an unused glass of water and cheerfully gave it to the now-embarrassed diner. Another diner, with the gift of prophecy, turned and said to the person next to them, “I knew that was going to happen.” Then, one with the gift of teaching turned to the one who spilled their water and gently suggested that they put their drinking glass behind their plate when they finished drinking a drink. Placing it near the table’s edge was an accident waiting to happen.

After people turned away from the incident, one encourager quietly moved in and encouraged the red-faced guest to forget about it and return to eating and having a good time. The head waiter came over to ensure the mess was cleaned up and then leaned in, showing mercy, and said, “Don’t worry about it. We all have done it at one time or another.” After the dinner, the main speaker went to the podium and, before giving her speech, said, “Let us all move our waters toward the middle of the tables as I move mine away from my speech.” Some laughed. She was a natural leader.

If you were at that dinner party, what would you have done? When you read this story, what was your natural reaction? Your first thought? Your answer to that question is a natural indicator of how you are wired. Or to your natural gifting.

That gift is from God. So I ask, “Are you using your gift?” More importantly, “Are you using it for the One who gave it to you?” I hope so, and I highly encourage you to. It would be a shame not to use a gift because gifts are made to be given away.