THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

by Niki Wilson

1 Peter 4:10  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  (NIV)

Many of us are not strangers to the hustle and bustle that this time of year brings.  The festive decorating, merriment in the air, family gatherings, and of course the gift finding and giving permeates the atmosphere and it seems as if every waking moment is leading up to Christmas day.  Christmas in the United States has taken on a capitalistic attitude that focuses most on gift giving and receiving and most of us often miss the reason for the season.  JESUS.  I will admit that I am guilty of getting so wrapped up in getting the tree and finding the perfect gift for my love ones, and THEN taking time to remember that it is Christ who we are to celebrate.  When God presented the gift of Jesus to the Earth we all were given an opportunity to find abundant life and joy in Him.  Thinking of the life that Christ led in his humanness I realized that although He was a gift and never gave a wrapped one, Jesus was a gift giver.  He gave us the gift of peace, love, reconciliation, healing, forgiveness, purpose, life, mercy, prayer, wisdom, freedom, the Holy Spirit, and so much more.  Like Jesus, we also have gifts that are placed in us to share with those that we encounter.  Imagine if we would all take time to bless others with the gifts that God has placed in us every day of the year.  This can be prayer, an encouraging word, sharing wisdom… 

Taking the time to be a gift giver when the holiday season is over is not only pleasing to God, but we can be active participants in bringing the true love of Christ to our world that is in dire need of it.   Maybe you can share the gift of a smile, a listening ear to someone in pain, praying with your sister, or serving those in need.   Today I encourage you to think about what you can share with those that you meet to uplift them so that your presence and actions become a present to them.  Make this a habit.  With faith acts we can have CHRISTmas everyday and be a gift that keeps on giving.  Thank you for reading! 

Feel free to comment below or follow Blessed Chix for weekly readings.  In the meantime, love AND live.

Nikitia (creator-Blessed Chix-the blog)

Nikitia (Niki) Wilson believes in the power of storytelling.  She founded Blessed Chix to fulfill the call that God gave her to reach, encourage, and inspire women and girls through testimonies of overcoming the odds.   Niki has dedicated her life and ministry to creating a platform where women can share  with each other in safe, nonjudgmental, and “come as you are” environments in order to find fullness in life and in love.  She is happily married to her husband Rev. Eli Wilson, III and resides in Metro New York where she is a librarian.