In our lifetime, just about all of us have received some great gifts. We may even have one or two that stand apart from the rest; those we won't soon forget. Nevertheless, the greatest gifts of all are those that come from God; those, which no amount of money in
the world can buy. The idea for this article was born at a baby dedication in church recently. It was then that Lord reminded me that children, as well as our spouses, family, and all our loved ones, are among His greatest gifts to us. As with all gifts and blessings, we often tend to take them for granted. This should not be so surprising, since we repeatedly take God for granted as well. Have you ever wondered what your life would be like without the little child you have grown accustomed to cooing and holding in your arms? How about the little faces that kiss you goodbye before they leave for school in the mornings? If that is a big part of your life now, think what it would be like without it. There are many other things in our daily lives, of course, that we would have a difficult time dealing with if they were missing. Right now they may seem trivial, for example, a funny look over eyeglasses, a frown that makes a face look twice normal size, or a generous smile that exposes a muthful of tooth imperfection. If we don't do it often enough now, I'm sure we'll think about these once we stop seeing them on a regular basis. Years after, the memories of our child's first step, word, tooth, voluntary bath, or graduation, continue to bring a warm feeling in the heart. And what parent can forget the happy day when he first saw glimpses of good character traits in his/her children? To borrow from a corny line, these are gifts that keep on giving. I believe David had many of these memories in mind when he wrote: As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. (Psalms 127:4-5) I realize that Fathers Day is just around the corner, and that more fuss than usual will be graced on fathers. Even so, it is the fathers who should be exceedingly thankful for the children God blessed them with. It is through them and through their children, that hopes and dreams continue to live in their hearts, even in old age. Yes, God is good! My purpose in the writing of this article is that God may help us to never forget how blessed we are with the gifts He has bestowed upon us. May this stir our hearts to be ever thankful and motivate us to serve the Lord more completely. At the same time, may we be wise enough to take advantage of the blessings we now have, for everything in this life is temporary. Whether you are a parent, spouse, child, family member, or friend, show your love and appreciation to those blessed souls who have brightened your life, while you still have opportunity. What are the best ways to bring joy and happiness to someone's life? Is it flowers, a good restaurant, chocolates, or a trip to a favorite mall? A little common sense will be helpful. If you know the person real good, then you would be in a better position to know the things that please him or her. Besides any of these things, don't forget to include one of my favorites, a good old-fashioned hug. Of course, hugs won't mean much, and may even create discomfort if they are not the product of a pure and sincere heart. God has made us so that very few things in life can replace the feeling one gets by a warm, friendly touch. Hugging our loved ones is very wholesome. Why don't you go out and hold some? Pardon the corn!