On an occasion in Alberta, Canada, I was with a friend in his father’s store. On the shelf was a small pair of cowboy boots. I deeply desired those boots for one of my grandsons, but could not persuade myself to purchase them. The significant cost was equal to that for boots fitting an adult. On returning to his home, my host handed me the little boots in a tote bag: You wanted those boots very much. They’re yours.
I wondered how he could know that I wanted those boots. I had said nothing, and did not know that anyone had observed my lonely preoccupation with the shoes. He backgrounded: When I was in South America, I learned a grand cultural practice that I have adopted. My Spanish speaking friends taught me that when one discovers a particular look on a face, and relates that look to a legitimate dream of some ecstasy, it becomes a command, to a caring observer, to obtain the desired object and present it to him or her as a gift. This may be a gift of service, or word, or even a gesture. The look is not selfish. As often as not it is a look of desire for giving a gift to a loved one. It is clean, legitimate longing. You had the look, and my action was dictated by it. It was irresistible. I had to do it. Also, I learned how satisfying it is to give something that is so genuinely desired. (We have all given gifts, only to sense the receiver’s disappointment with the gift. Some joy of giving leaks out of us when it occurs.)
I accepted his gift, a gift that had so much value added to it. It was also the discovery of special sensitivity for me that made my actions thereafter better than they were before. With gratitude for his lesson, I have tried to follow the lead of my friend. There is a special feeling that comes from developing character for such interest in others. It functions in us for effective service without generating thoughts of personal reward. It is extra-special when perceived in a family context.
The grander lesson is found in the growing realization in us that God functions somewhat in the same manner of involved interest. He, something like a doting but wise parent, is pleased to reach out and give his children good things, just because they want them. (Mark 11:24) This assumes that such desire does not violate approved life principles. Joy is found in meeting the helpful interests of others, especially our family members. If one is truly sensitive to others he/she will discover something of the inner being that can be nourished in both the one who gives and the one who receives. I discovered something beautiful from the motivation – deeply satisfying.
Inexplicably, God enjoys our joys. God, taken up with eternal matters, finds himself pleased to listen to us in our mortal concerns and desires. Joining all is sensitivity accomplished in alertness to others, perhaps helped in prayer for Christ-likeness. God, like David’s friends, will break through barriers, and give us the draft of water we thirst for, even if in humility we pour it on the ground as an offering to God as David did. What a gift it is to be made into gift givers, desiring to give humbly and with gratitude for what we have received. We can give, in heart patterns, as God gives. Now, can you imagine what it would mean if the gifts given at Christmas were given in this sense of person, of value added. Our observations may be limited, so we negotiate with our gift receiver. What do you really want for Christmas? The answer may be: I want you to surprise me. Good enough. The person, no matter what is received, will know that the giver was interested in the one loved receiving the gift. There is mystery in it. We little realize that what we want (the desire of the heart) means so very much to God. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020