God Gives First

Let it be known that I realize we’re knee deep into January, but I have stories stacked up from Christmas. Longtime listeners know full well I can’t let go of them until I share, right? Right. And now any of you new visitors know it, too. It’s not like these tales have an expiration date, y’all, but there’s only so much room in my head to store them. That said, here’s an endearing one on my youngest granddaughter.

Carlisle Mae went Christmas shopping all by herself this year. That’s not an easy thing to do when you’re five, but Carlisle thinks outside the box. Her daddy, and my number one son bore witness to her latest stroke of ingenuity a couple weeks before our big family gift exchange.

Phillip was busy in his office when Carlisle wandered into the room with a basket on her arm.

“Don’t look,” she instructed her daddy. “I’m Christmas shopping and it’s a secret.” Once she had Phillip’s promise, Carlisle began browsing the bookshelves with a serious focus, much as you and I might peruse the aisles of our favorite gift shop. Did Phillip peak? Of course. My son watched out of the corner of his eye as his daughter considered one item after another before she finally settled on a deer figurine to add to her cart.

Days later, Phillip recounted the story to me and we grinned from ear to ear. I’m still smiling as I share this tale with you. I see truth in it, sweet truth.

I don’t know if you can see your reflection in this tale, but it’s not difficult for me to see myself. Whether we’re talking about our time, talents, praises, or finances, we deceive ourselves if we think there is a single thing we can offer our Father that He hasn’t given us first. Beginning with the air in our lungs, anything we have belongs to Him.

And yet, on loan as they are, He accepts these gifts from us with loving affection. In the words of one of my favorite worship songs, “He’s a good, good Father.”

Hugs, Shellie