That happens to me. Yes, in the present tense because it's a regular occurrence. Especially this one person who was joking about someone else not opening my gift for a year, and it turns out the one joking was the one who has not yet opened their gift from me.
Four days and counting.
Sigh. If that person only knew how expensive that gift was!
If that person knew how much *I* wanted that gift for myself!
Would the person even notice if I took back the gift? I might as well enjoy it for myself...
But I am suddenly reminded (by guess Who):
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
(Romans 11:29)
Irrevocable. If God won't take back His gifts, who am I to do otherwise?
I was convicted and chastised about the times I ignored the gifts He gave me... and the times I misused them (such as for personal gain, or to hurt others).
Yet God never took back His gifts and His calling. They're still there, waiting for me. And God does not just wait for me to figure out my way to them -- He gently restores and reminds:
- by His Holy Spirit;
- by His written Word;
- by the God-centered people around me;
- and by circumstances (failures teach more effectively than successes!).
Now I remember why I gave that gift to that person. It was a deliberate act of love and goodwill. It was my choice --- independent of the receiver's response.
So without further ado, I left the gift where I found it. Unopened, unacknowledged, unappreciated.
A few hours later, I got this text:
"Teci, I started reading the book ----- that you gave me. It's great! I love it. Uumpisahan ko sa January 1 ulit, hehe! Thank you very much!"
Whoa. (Whoa to the infinity, since this comes from a non-expressive person.) Thank God I didn't take that gift back! The joy and blessing is now greatly multiplied.
And now to make more use of God's gifts and calling for me. :)
