The Gift
Real Talk
The Gift
Its exciting when a child receives a gift from their parent when a special occasion comes such as a birthday, Christmas, or any other celebrated event. Children’s eyes are usually big and bright and hopeful of the item that was previously requested. The parents and family give the gift and watch as their child or children as they tear open the carefully packaged surprise and take pictures in oh’s and awe’s to show excitement. At this point, depending on the parenting skills, the child may either be pleased or not with the new gift. Some parents make restrictions according to scholastic behavior or social behavior displayed by their children and determine what type of gift their child may receive. With good behavior, we normally reward our children with what they have asked for; henceforth, many of us believe in less of a reward for a prolonged behavioral problem. A gift is usually measured by how much a person has admired you throughout a period of time and shows some form of affection and sacrifice. The giver of this gift is also assured that you will take care of what they have presented to show them what level of appreciation you are at or will become. So what kind of gift would you receive for your behavior? Would your gift be something wrapped in beautiful paper yet gently used because you were ungrateful most of the time? Could your gift be a valuable one in a small package because you have been a gem without knowing it? I look at our children as gifts. We carry them in our wombs for 9 months and we don’t know what they look like or act like until we give birth and spend time rearing them. It’s almost the same as a package that has been delivered in a different form of nature/nurture. Do we care for our children as we should after we receive them as a precious gift? No matter what situation they were brought to us in, they are still a gift from God. So when you look at your gift, no matter the age, have you carefully analyzed your time with your gift? Have you thought about what your gift has learned in your care? Often our children displayed behaviors that they have picked up from us acting out of character. You only get one shot at raising your children and admiring the gift that God has given you so what grade would you get from God? Would he approved the tainted atmospheres or conversations aired in front of the gift that HE sent you that was so precious? I look at our children as the gift that keeps on giving and one day our precious gifts will be older to become gifts in love and relationships to others. I have to ask myself many questions in this discussion. Did I do my best? Was I being selfish or self-centered when I failed to discipline him a time or two? Would that affect his future because I neglected to do my job and parent the gift that I was given? I want my precious gift to have a light of God inside of him wherever he goes and to exemplify respect and dignity. I want him to show honor and love towards his fellow man, yet be strong enough to stand on his own when the time comes. Every parent will make mistakes, but its what you do after you realize your error and right your wrongs. It’s not easy raising a child or maturing as an adult at the same time, but it’s got to be much harder for God to see us as gifts that act with no humility in regards to HIS grace and mercy. The same way that we observe our gifts is the same way that HE watches us to see just how we appreciate all that HE has given us. So will your gift be damaged from not being handled with care? Or will you see a shiny, new item because of great admiration from HIM? I pray that my hard work is not in vain. There were times where I made mistakes, but I learned from them just as my parents did. I also pray that my gift carries on his light for generations to come to show others that God does give us the best. It’s what we do with it after we get it that matters. As always Love yourself and you’ll find love all around you-Val Watts
