The Gift

My dad is one of the most giving men in this world. The best part about my Dad is the kind of gift giver he is; the giver that doesn't desire anything in return. Maybe that's why I've been blessed with the gift of RECEIVING. Yes, I am one of the best gift receivers you'll ever meet. Just buy me something and I'll prove it to you. If you need some suggestions, just email me and I'll send you over the Nordstroms catalog.

My dad always taught me when you give, you give when no one sees. That way the only treasure you receive is from God, not man. So normally, I don't deem it fit to brag or boast about charity, however I do find it very neccessary to fall on my knees and thank God for the amazing little man he is growing my step-son into.

Mitch (my 9 y.o. step-son) approached Buckethead a few weeks ago with a burden that was heavy on his heart. With sad eyes, he told his dad he wanted to help the homeless.

When Buckethead asked Mitch what gave him this desire, his response was, "God told me at church and it made me really sad".

Buckethead told Mitch to brainstorm how he would like to help the homeless. Not long after, Mitch came back to his dad and told him he would like to give the $100 he had been saving up this year to the homeless in downtown Dallas.

Buckethead and I agreed to match his one hundred dollars and we spent this past Saturday morning making care packages for the men who line up for a warm bed every evening at Austin Street Shelter. With 40 packages of cookies and $5 gift certificates to McDonalds, Buckethead, Mitch and I headed downtown to follow through with the desire God laid on my precious son's heart.

As I watched him walk towards the line of men, I was reminded of how blessed we are and how we are to use that to be a blessing to others. Soon a crowd surrounded this little boy who said yes to the calling of Jesus. He didn't let his fears deter him from what he needed to do.Instead, he just went to those precious people who had absolutely nothing to give in return and he showed them that they were "inscribed in the palm of God's hand". He gave to them and wanted nothing in return. The gift was the giving.
And as he walked back to the car, I wept. I wept for the lowly and the weak; I wept for those people who did not have a home, a bed or a family; I wept because life sometimes isn't fair. But those tears were also filled with such pride and such love that filled my heart for Mitch. For the heart of a child who loves Jesus and loves the people that Jesus' loves. At 9 years old, his heart was breaking for what breaks our God's heart. It was one of my most cherished moments.

After we left and I snotted all over the car and my sleeve, we spent the rest of the afternoon spending quality time together at the Dallas World Aquarium viewing amazing creatures that were God's gift to us. Maybe he feels the same way we did as he watches us enjoy his gifts.