February 18, 2022

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

I’ve basically stopped buying Valentine’s Day/Birthday/Christmas presents for my wife, because she always returns them. This was an issue for a while. Now, I happily accept the reality that gift giving isn’t really in my gift-cluster! Nor, does she really care about getting gifts. For Valentine’s Day I just gave her a poem about how all my gifts end up at Good Will. Everyone was happy!

God is the perfect gift-giver, of course. He knows exactly what you need. The greatest gift – His Son. And returning His gift – either by refusing it, exchanging it, or trying to give something back in return – is not in your power.

“O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Seventh Sunday after Epiphany – BCP)