The gift

By CHERYL CRUCE

I love getting presents, who doesn’t? Brightly colored packages, neatly wrapped with a bow on top, can bring a smile to any face. For a child, the bigger the box, the better the gift. Maybe because the child considers the “big box” part of the gift, inevitably, it will become an imaginary fort, house, or hiding place for a little one. When does “big things come in small packages” become a reality?
Somewhere between the wide-eyed wonder of a child and adult-life experiences, our reach changes from the big box to the little package. We learn that diamond rings, cross pendants, and gold watches are in small packages. Nonetheless, regardless of age, whether the gift is large or small, we can all agree that receiving a gift will always bring a smile to the receiver’s heart.
Another gift reality that spans the time between youth and aging is the position of the gift. Is it in the hands of the giver or the receiver? There comes a time in life when giving the gift becomes greater than getting. This transition begins from within. Searching for the perfect gift becomes an adventure of love. It is exciting to see the joy on the face of a loved one as the unwrapping begins. Then there is that moment when the giving and receiving meets the participants with unspeakable pleasure.
This unspeakable pleasure reaches even further into the progression of gift-giving to find the greatest gift of all. Although this gift has many perspectives, it remains the least expensive and costliest. Yet the giver never weighs the cost, for the reward is beyond comprehension and delivers unbelievable joy to both parties. It is the gift of self, and it is the most rejected.
Jesus felt this rejection just before the Passover Festival when Peter rejected His gift of serving. Jesus was offering the gift of self when He knelt before Peter to wash His feet. Peter declined the act until Jesus responded, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me (v.8).” It was a gift, an act of devotion, from the Lord to Peter. When Peter finally understood this, he humbly received the gift of love from the Lord (John 13:1-17).
Pride and humility stood in strong contrast in another time of giving. Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee, a prideful man.  While He was seated at the table, a humble woman entered the room, breaking open an alabaster jar of perfume. As the fragrance filled the air, love healed her spirit. Jesus may have served when washing the feet of the disciples; He also allowed Himself to be served, bringing healing to the server. Jesus told the woman her faith had saved her (Luke 7:36-50). From a “big box-little box” perspective, her serving was the smaller box.
It is so much easier to serve than to be served. By nature, we are to be independent, standing on our own, which becomes a matter of pride. Pride leads to destruction, and a haughty spirit comes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18). Maybe the greatest gift is relinquishing our pride and allowing others to serve us. Or maybe the greatest gift is giving ourselves in service to another. However, neither gift will come wrapped with pretty paper and fancy bows; there will be no boxes to choose from. The gift will be packaged within one’s spirit, and to deny their gift would be to deny their blessing.  
Proverbs 11:25 A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.