The Gift That Keeps Giving

I am always happily surprised by the quality of life when I purpose to relate to people with the character of Christ. I don't always achieve my goal, but the day to day navigation through the stesses that confront me takes on a balanced, peaceful rhythm. Kindness, patience, mercy, understanding, affection...these all come back to me when sent out where I live, work, and fellowship.

Having focused this week on reflecting to others the love I experience in my relationship with Him, I had one affirming, positive experience after another. Tuesday, one right after the other, people came through the door giving hugs (and I am a hug junkie). Pastors, students, senior adults, little children...I don't remember what the prescribed daily quota is supposed to be, but I know it was exceeded. I got a phone call from one of the Sunday School teachers I serve through my work. He told me "he had missed my warm smile and great hugs; where had I been?" I told him that the last few Sundays had been busy and I had not had the chance to roam and just touch base with people. An hour or so later, he followed it with an email. He wrote "see you with a hug Sunday!"

The same day, I was approached by someone with a prayer request. I had been irritated with him for over a week for an off-hand critical comment he had made in my presence, and had been considering how best to confront him with it, when he shared a problem with me and asked for my prayers. Immediately, all irritation was gone, and I found myself commiserating and offering input and promising prayers.

A little preschooler ran up to me, hugged my legs, and said "you so purty." He now owns me. And a student with whom I've had a "hi, how are you relationship" sat and talked to me about western world lit, and her college plans, and how she feels about high school dances. I have really missed that kind of time since I quit teaching.

The curse of self-centeredness is that self is always voraciously hungry, and never satisfied. The gift of God-centeredness and outward focus is the gift that gives back, over and over again. Taken in its true context, it reminds me of Jesus' words in Luke 4:38, "Give and it will be given to you; a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over--will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

I wonder what the going price is for dump trucks.