Divine Perspective: Weekly Devotion: A Word About Gifts

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and

comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is

no variation or shadow of turning (Jas. 1:17).

Al and I have known one another since we were six years old—more than half a century now! Our oldest son turned forty three days before Christmas, and even our grandchildren aren’t babies anymore. Life has a way of zooming right along, doesn’t it?

One of the best things that comes from knowing someone for so long is that we instinctively know what sort of gift to buy—or not. My husband realizes I’m the practical sort and would much rather get a gift that I can put to good use (like a new toaster or blender to replace the one that just broke down) than one I can do nothing but polish and stare at—and pray I don’t lose!—like a diamond ring. This year he outdid himself: He didn’t just get me a good gift; he got me the perfect gift. It’s an ergonomic, wireless keyboard and mouse, which I’m using right now and loving every minute of it. It’s a gift that says, “I love you and know you well enough to realize this is the gift you want and need so you can continue to pursue your passion of writing with a lot more comfort and ease.” In fact, I hadn’t even hinted to him that I would like something like this, though it had crossed my mind a few times. I didn’t have to; he just knew.

God gives us gifts like that, doesn’t He? He gives us just what we need to pursue the passion He has placed inside us. Can you imagine how awful it would be if He gave us a passion (a good gift) to write but didn’t give us the ability to do so (the perfect gift)? It is both an honor and a privilege to be called and gifted by God to proclaim His words to a hurting and needy world. As we wrap up the year of 2006, may we enter 2007 with a fresh appreciation of the good and perfect gift of “writing the vision” that God has bestowed upon us—the gift that enables us to tell the world about the greatest Gift of all, God’s very own Son.