Bareness For Fullness
I believe there is great vulnerability in the receiving of a gift. As author Ann Voskmap states in her book, "One Thousand Gifts," the act of acceptance itself almost always requires the unclenching of the fist. Because an empty palm is just exactly that, --empty, it can be difficult for many of us to own up to the bareness of that. As we all know, it is only when we release that which is already in our hands that we will be able to embrace all we are being handed.
James 1:17 says that, "Every good and perfect gift comes... down from the Father of Lights." Although it is, in fact, the Lord that gives us the gifts that we are most in need of, I myself have a strong tendency to doubt whether or not I wish to receive those gifts. Sometimes, His gifts take us by surprise. Sometimes, His gifts cause discomfort. Sometimes His gifts seem to be the exact opposite of what we really want. According to Voskamp, we must open ourselves to every gift that the Lord presents us with, regardless of whether or not we would choose those gifts for ourselves.
Ann Voskamp made a list of God's gifts to her as an act of worship to Him. In other words, she became a seeker of divine beauty in hopes of refocusing her life around the many ways that God was revealing His love to her. Here's my own list.
1. Tea pouring into cups
2. Newly baked chocolate chip cookies on a plate
3. A run through a new city
4. A friend's giggle
5. Golden retrievers
6. Reading in the morning
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