"THE GIVER AND THE GETTER"

Rene Phillips Qualls

I place my "toys" on the bookshelves in my bedroom.  My plastic sea turtle.  The Taco Bell race car.  My Jar Jar Binks Lego set, and my crayons.  There stands Snow White, a "Toy Story" alien, and a "Wild Thornberry's" Burger King toy.  Everyone here knows that these are "Mom's Toys."

I place great worth on these items, not for their collector's value, but because they were gifts to me from my little son, Thomas. Thomas does not go to work.  He does not generate an income from which to draw upon to purchase gifts for others.  So, when he gives, he gives of his own belongings.  I accept his gift, not only because I want him to be a giver, but because I want him to be a getter, too.

God gives to us by using other people through which to channel His gifts.  He especially blesses us, when we are givers.  But He doesn't limit His special attention to givers, to adults only.  He also has His eye on the child who gives.  That is why it is important that I accept the gifts from Thomas.  I love him, and I love the things he gives me, but I also want him to receive any blessing from God that is coming to him, for his being a giver.

So often we decline a gift or an offer of help from another person.  It may seem that our reasons for doing so are good ones.  Perhaps we feel that the person cannot afford the gift, or we feel guilty when someone else serves us.  But when we decline the gift, not only are we keeping the person from his blessing, we are also preventing God from blessing us!  Perhaps God is using that individual as an answer to prayer.  Maybe it wasn't our prayer, but the prayer of another for us.  Our Heavenly Father is very generous, and wants to bless us!  Could it be that by not accepting something from another person, we are really not accepting a gift from God?

It is important for my sons, Nathan and Thomas, to learn to be givers and servers.  They have been encouraged to do so.  I also want them to keep their eyes wide open to God, and the way that He does things.  I don't want them to miss anything He has for them.  So they accept the gifts from God, and in turn, the giver receives a blessing from Him.  Everyone is blessed and happy!
 
 

Copyright © 2000  René Phillips Qualls  (Used by permission.)