May God’s peace, love and mercy be with you all!
I remember during my birthday a friend of mine asked me what I wanted as a gift for my birthday. I told my friend, just go to confession and go to mass and receive Our Good Lord Jesus in holy communion because that is what Jesus desires, to possess us, to receive Him with that purity of soul. I really did not want anything for I have received the Perfect Gift, Our Good Lord Jesus in holy communion. And during last Christmas, my friends were trying to decide about the exchange gift, so I told them that this time, it is going to be different. We are not going to have one, but instead appreciate each others presence and friendship as the gift (aside of course from receiving Jesus Himself in holy communion). We also baked some brownies and visited the sick. We gave it to a former patient of mine whom we visited in his home. I tell you that was more meaningful, moving, and an experience I will always treasure that will endure through all eternity than opening a gift that will last only for a while, of whom we may forget or lose interest after some time.
We have to remember that when we give, we give out of pure love, for the love of God and not because we are expecting something in return. If we do that, we won’t get hurt at all because we do it for the love of God. So whether they thank you or not, whether they remember you or not, whether they reciprocate it or not, it really doesn’t matter. What matters the most is that it is God Who is moving you out of His great love and generosity to share the gifts that He has entrusted you to share with others. Remember, we are only God’s stewards. We don’t really own anything, for anything and everything belongs to Him. The things that we have, our time, money and talent, He entrusts to us. He can take it away at anytime, He also bestows us more depending on His most Holy Will. It is a matter of how well we handle the gifts that God has given to us, for His greater love, honor and glory.
Now about giving, we always have to pray to find out what is His will about what to give to a person or giving a person what they are asking for. An example that I can give is a friend of mine asking me for a specific item as a gift. I told my friend that I do not know and will have to pray about it. So my friend was not happy about it and told me I was being selfish. Well, my feelings surely didn’t get hurt for I really didn’t care about what he wanted but what God wanted, what is His most holy will, for what is mine is not for me to give for I don’t own it. It is up to God, if He wills it. So, after praying about it for some time, it didn’t sit well in my heart, I knew it just wasn’t God’s will. So, I told my friend I could not give him what he was asking for. He was not happy, nothing I could do about it but I was at peace knowing that I have followed God’s most holy Will despite human pressure and rejection.
God bless!
Blessed be Jesus and Mary!