SHARING OUR GIFTS

Stop.
Take a deep breath. As you breathe in, say, “I receive God’s goodness.” As you breathe out, say, “I share God’s love.” Repeat this as many times as you need.

Listen.
For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord. – 1 Samuel 1:27-28

Reflect.
As we will hear on Sunday, Hannah’s desperate story continues with unbelievable joy. She receives the son for whom she prayed and celebrates God’s goodness. However, she made a promise to God: give me a son, and I will return that son to you. Once her son is old enough, she goes to the temple with her child and does just that. She gives young Samuel into the Lord’s service.

When God’s abundance surrounds us, it gets easy to forget that these gifts belong first to God. We tend to find reasons why we should keep still more and more of what God entrusts to us. But that’s not the way God works. God gives us good things not so we can show them off, or hoard them, or tell ourselves that we’re better than others. God gives us good things because God is good and wants that goodness to multiply.

Pray.
I have prayed for your mercy and kindness, God, and praise you for all the ways your abundance has been made real in my life. Give me a generous spirit that freely shares your gifts with a world that needs to know your love. Amen.

Carry On.
No matter what you have or don’t have, no matter what you get or don’t get, God is still good. You can share that message anytime, anywhere, in any possible way.