I have received a few things over my life that fell in that category. A very rare Montblanc pen from my Dad, 18 years ago, that’s locked away in a safe. I’ve written with it only a few times, as I’m concerned that I may drop it and damage it. Should I want to write with it today, I may need to replace the original refill, as it’s been years since I’ve used it. The reality is someone may inherit this pen and lose it or sell it to spend the money on something else within six months.
Likewise, the very first gift my eldest son gave me, paid for from his first job, has been kept untouched, because it is so special to me. I realize now that the set of L’Occitane En Provence fragranced soaps and creams, may have an expiry date and although they may last as a wonderful gesture and live on in a beautiful gift box in my cupboard untouched forever, I have not received the benefit from it that the giver intended to bestow on me, who actually wanted to bless me with the benefits that the gift releases.
Maybe that’s why receiving ice cream as a gift is one of my favourite things, because there is no saving it!
As a parent, I’m watching my kids grow up and each finding their own lane to run in. They each have been given unique gifts from God, ranging from sports, music to math, and others. By gift I mean a natural ability to do something, which goes to another level if any additional effort or training is applied, and the right lifestyle added, to extract the gift’s optimum benefit.
Life presents choices to us daily that either moves us closer or further away from the goodness of what God gave us. Sometimes all that’s needed is to recognise a natural gift, to strengthen it and having the courage to step into it, unlocking the fullness of its benefits.
What gift have you received that is special and personal to you that you are not using or enjoying the benefits from, that the giver intended you to have as an expression of their love or friendship towards you? Our response to something given to us in love should not be, to store it, or to not to use it, for the value it’s to release, might be forever lost.