Receiving gifts from God

[millstreet]

Hi,

I’m not entirely sure if this is the right place to post this. I’m also not entirely sure why I am posting it, maybe just to clarify what I am thinking in my own mind.

Lent was an extraordinary experience for me this year because I took it seriously for once (I am in a totally different place w/ the Church than I ever have been). A lot of good reflection and one thing that has come up for me is the difference between “receiving” a gift from God vs. “taking” said gift. For all of the problems I’ve had over the past two years, I can easily boil them down to trying to “take” rather than “receive”, and maybe this realization will help me going forward if I can get past some of the damage done.

This is abstract, I know, but I don’t want to get into too much. But an example, say a person comes into your life who is unlike anyone you have met. What I am thinking is that receiving this person as a gift from God, if one accepts that God is responsible for certain encounters and opportunities, means almost sitting back and letting this person be what they’re supposed to be to you. Taking this gift, means trying to define what this person is, that is, taking for your own purposes. Does this make any sense?

I am not sure what this means for other things, either, but I guess I am wondering what others think about this line of reasoning. Have you thought in similar terms?

Thanks

 

[Justicia_et_Pax]

Hi,

I’m not entirely sure if this is the right place to post this. I’m also not entirely sure why I am posting it, maybe just to clarify what I am thinking in my own mind.

Lent was an extraordinary experience for me this year because I took it seriously for once (I am in a totally different place w/ the Church than I ever have been). A lot of good reflection and one thing that has come up for me is the difference between “receiving” a gift from God vs. “taking” said gift. For all of the problems I’ve had over the past two years, I can easily boil them down to trying to “take” rather than “receive”, and maybe this realization will help me going forward if I can get past some of the damage done.

This is abstract, I know, but I don’t want to get into too much. But an example, say a person comes into your life who is unlike anyone you have met. What I am thinking is that receiving this person as a gift from God, if one accepts that God is responsible for certain encounters and opportunities, means almost sitting back and letting this person be what they’re supposed to be to you. Taking this gift, means trying to define what this person is, that is, taking for your own purposes. Does this make any sense?

I am not sure what this means for other things, either, but I guess I am wondering what others think about this line of reasoning. Have you thought in similar terms?

Thanks

I hear what you’re saying about taking v receiving, and can relate to your example of a person coming into one’s life. That has happened to me before. So yes, I have thought in similar terms. I think your post is spot on!

Unfortunately I am very much “take, take, take!” rather than allowing myself to receive Oh well, maybe one day that will change

 

[Beryllos]

Yes, it makes sense. I haven’t thought it through completely, but I wonder if it is related to the “attitude of gratitude.”

My teenage daughter, for example, is unhappy that she didn’t get an iPhone for Christmas or her birthday. My wife and I do, however, give generously to her of our time and attention with regard to academics, sports, and a little bit of religion and cultivating right behavior, not to mention that we provide well and lovingly for all her basic needs. She sometimes says she feels like the most unfortunate girl in her school because of what she doesn’t have.

Getting back to your discussion, I think it is important for all of us to recognize God’s gifts and God’s plan for us, even if it is not what we expected, or what we wanted, and recognize that it is good, very good.

 

[Cricket2]

I think we all go through something like this. When we take a gift from God, it is like we are not even paying attention to Him. We take it for granted, for example, that we are healthy, have a good job, can pay the bills, or just missed getting hit by a car. But when those gifts are suddenly removed from us or we lose them, then we complain about our misfortune.

This is why it is important to be thankful all the time. If we take time to reflect on our day and consider what we did “receive” we become more aware of all the gifts that came our way. The best way to amend for our lack of awareness and blind taking, is to take time to be thankful. So yes, I too have done this and been a taker. Sad but true. But I can do better and everyday is a chance to correct my relationship with God.

I invite you and others to take time today, or when you read this post, to find three things or more to thank God for. For today, on my part: 1. Thankful for the OP and the opportunity to make this reflection 2. Thankful that my sister is still alive 3. Thankful for the promise of a good day and feeling God’s love already. Amen.