The Best Gift Ever!
The Best Gift Ever!
As a young child, presents are opened with such anticipation and surprise as the contents become evident immediately. The best gift that I ever received and am receiving to this very day was not in actually in a festive wrapped box adorned with bright, shiny ribbons. This gift was bestowed upon me in my early childhood days and continued through teenage years and now in my older adult years. My parents nurtured this gift in so many ways through their ideals and actions. I was gifted through the Holy Spirit to outpour love and compassion for my fellow man, woman, child, or animal. It didn't matter who they were, what they had done, or even who they hung out with. All that just didn't seem to matter.
My dad took me on my first church mission outing at probably age 10. We had to get up very early to meet at church to collect our newspapers and directions on this quest. I was so excited to go as his helper, not knowing that my gift was about to unravel its ribbons and wrapping paper to give way for my blessing to become reality. We went door to door knocking and announcing "Big Brothers" hoping to have the households to give donations in exchange for a newspaper. If you are a baby boomer, you know this was not the usual weekly newspaper. I was allowed to do the knocking and dad was calling out. Later, I was allowed to do both, as my dad thought I had learned the ropes for this job. I felt so proud that I was working for the Lord, by collecting these donations for much needed missions somewhere.
We as a family were always involved with different mission programs at my home church for the community in Nashville, some were even for faraway places I didn't even know existed. This family-church involvement had such a big direct impact on me, as I felt God nudging me along through the years. I became more independent and joined more opportunities to do God's work through UMYF and other opportunities in the community.
So here I am now, still reopening that gift day by day, when I feel God's touch nudging me forward to do the right thing in HIS eyes. HE helps me to see and reach out to someone in need, someone hungry, someone in fear, someone sad or lonely.
I look forward to the anticipation and joy outpouring as this gift keeps opening, for I know "the ONE" that giveth it to me.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you and honor you daily for all the blessings you bestow upon me and others daily. I am so fulfilled to be your servant in this world where so many need YOU. May YOU continue to guide and teach me where thy works are needed most. May my eyes be opened and my heart be outpouring to those hungering for you in some aspects in their lives. I pray this in YOUR holy name, Amen
-Sheryl A. Tippitt-Bates
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