The Hills Roll On

Though I haven’t completely read Gary Chapman’s bestseller “The Five Love Languages”, I have done a few tests and self scrutiny to finally admit that of the five, my top love language (the one through which I express and receive most strongly a sense of tangible love in every relational context), is the one I always thought the most vain; gifts.  The other four seem so much more honorable and sweet: words of affirmation, time, touch and acts of service.  But try as I may, though all four communicate love to me on some level, none speaks as strongly as gifts.  It wasn’t until these past two years that I finally started to see the pattern in my life — the attention to detail in gift giving, the importance of wrapping and decorating, the cards, the year-round collection of gifts and cards for people I care for.  The final clincher came when I finally saw that my mom has been a key influence in this ‘love language’, for surely it is one of her primary love languages.  When you get a gift from my mom, it’s not that it’ll be terribly expensive, but the love that is communicated through it is undeniable (the wrapping, the hearts, the homemade card with stamps and stickers, the xo’s, and so much that is beyond words).  It’s so much more than a gift — it’s the wordless measure behind it.  That someone was thinking so fondly of you well before the tangible expression came in a gift form.  That they took the time, the care, the thought, the effort to put together a little something just for you.  The whole beauty and joy of receiving, opening, enjoying, and savouring.  It’s so much more than a material object.  There’s something there that transcends ‘things’ — especially when the gift was unexpected and undeserved.
This morning is Valentines Day; I’m up ridiculously early cuz I went to bed way too early.  But early is nice when you are well rested and can enjoy the quiet (oh, I do!).  The gifts I’ve been collecting for weeks are all decorated with cards and candy and waiting on the kitchen table for my loved ones to discover later this morning.  I love the whole process - especially the culmination!  I would be lying if I said I hadn’t wondered ‘what Gavin is giving me’:)  It’s Valentines Day!  C’mon!  And though I know that gifts is NOT my dear husbands primary love language (he’s still deciding what is), I know he knows it’s mine.  But knowing and doing are two different things.  It doesn’t take much to bless this heart of mine, but it does take something (as opposed to nothing!).

But as I wonder whether Gavin will surprise me with a little something-something  today (he’s not the planning type like I am), I am humbly reminded of something far greater.  That everyday of my life I am already surrounded by gifts…some seen, but most unseen.  Though I love to wake up to surprise gifts just for me (like the jelly bean hunts our parents would put in our rooms on easter) — that in fact, I am daily, hourly, every second, the recipient of gift after gift.  Familiarity breeds contempt, so I forget to recognize and savour them.  And if all the tangible gifts in my life were suddenly gone (our nice warm cozy apartmen and all the things in it), would I be any less blessed?  Maybe less cozy, but no less blessed.  This is because the gifts of greatest import that I bear cannot be seen, touched or taken away.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  ~ Romans 5.8

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  ~ 1 John 1.3

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

~ Psalm 23

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. ~ Matthew 28.20

I could keep going but I’d just end quoting most of the Bible.  Perhaps I’ll just stop bearing testimony here and instead go savour what I already have.  Yes, I have good things all around me, of which the most prized and valuable are the people in my life (my husband, daughter and our soon to be born twin sons!)…but transcending all these wonderful gifts, is the gift of Love that God has LAVISHED on me…when I didn’t deserve it (who does?), when I can’t give anything back that even compares (who does?!) and when it was the last thing I thought I needed.  Today is a new day and I will choose to enjoy that which cannot be bought or stolen…

Thank you for the Cross, Daddy.  — You make all things new.