Last Updated on December 25, 2013 by
I still remember the years when I would take my young children shopping because they wanted to get a gift for their friends and family. They had no money and really didn’t even realize they needed any to buy the things they wanted.
Their gifts were carefully chosen and personal.
Their focus was on the giving. 
A new way of giving
As they grew older they came to realize that I had to pay for the gifts and they were no longer satisfied with that way of giving. They began to understand that there was a cost to giving and receiving. Child-wrapped packages of hand-made gifts from scraps of paper and wood and paint began appearing on Christmas morning. Soon they began saving a little birthday money and asking to do chores for a small fee so that they could have their own money when gift-giving time came.They shopped hard for that one special gift (at the Dollar Tree).
Their gifts were carefully chosen and personal.
Their focus was on the giving.
A new challenge in giving
In time they faced a new challenge. What do you give to the one who has everything and could buy anything? They expressed worry that their gift was not enough.
I reminded them to focus on the giving.
This year, as always, I received some very thoughtful gifts from them. They still don’t have a lot of money. Two of them have part-time jobs and the other three do odd jobs for family and neighbors. They spend carefully but they also save a little to buy gifts for friends and family.
The gifts they gave were carefully chosen and very personal.
Their focus was on the giving.
My gifts from them included:
- a decorative storage box from one who shares my love for order
- a beautiful handmade scarf, my favorite gum, and nail polish from one who shares my love for beauty
- a gift certificate to my favorite restaurant from one who shares my love for good food
- a crisp piece of money from one learning how to give and show love
- a beautiful handmade note from one desiring to express gratitude
I’ve faced the challenges they’ve faced when it comes to giving. I’ve had little or no money to buy gifts. I’ve tried to buy for one who has everything and could buy anything. In each case, I’ve tried to remember to focus on the giving.
A gift for the One who has everything
But oh what do I give the One who has everything—the One who made it all?
My children’s giving through the years has been much like my own giving to Him. As a young child, I gave without realizing the cost. Still I gave.
Soon I realized the cost of giving and receiving. The old way wasn’t good enough anymore. I gave Him my heart.
In time I faced the same challenge they’ve faced. What do I give the One who has everything? What more can I give?
What do I give the giver of life and forgiveness and mercy and grace and redemption?
What do I give the One who has given me an eternal inheritance?
I did what any smart gift-giver does.
I asked Him what He wanted from me.
He gave me a list.
It had one thing on it.
“Thanks.”
“Just give Me thanks,” was all He asked for.
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Psalm 7:17
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Isaiah 12:4
The sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying, “Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the LORD. Jeremiah 33:11
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:18
Give Him thanks.
It’s the perfect gift for the One who has everything.