What can I give Him, poor as I am? This is the question Christina Georgina Rossetti asked in a Christmas song she wrote. It’s a question we probably all ponder at times. There are so many needs in the world that it can be overwhelming. What can we do?How can we give? What gifts do we have?
One great gift to give to someone else is our smile and very often a smile is returned to us. It is an easy way to say, “I see you and I wish you a good day”. Research shows that children smile an average of 400 times per day, compared to the average happy adult who smiles 40-50 times per day and the typical adult who smiles only 20 times per day. Smiling helps release endorphins and has many health benefits. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Jesus tells us to be more like little children. Smiling is not only a gift to others, but also a gift to ourselves.
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart… Proverbs 15: 30
Treating someone with respect is another way we can impact someone: opening a door, giving up a seat on a bus, keeping noise down in public places…. Many ways we can let others know that we care about their comfort and enjoyment of life, too. Things that we can do that show that we recognize that they are valuable people, too. People might be very different from us, sometimes in ways that we don’t understand. However, all are God’s creations and it is God’s will that we show respect to everyone.
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. I Peter 2:17
Our presence can be a gift to someone else. Visiting a sick friend, sitting next to someone who is sitting alone, being emotionally present when we are with people. In this day of people carrying devices everywhere they go, people are often ignored. Recently, as I was walking home, I came upon a woman carrying four bags of groceries. I offered to carry two bags for her for as far as our paths were going in the same direction. She told me that she is often lonely and many days it is difficult to engage in conversation with anyone, anywhere. Some people may not want our presence, but I wonder if our effort isn’t appreciated anyway?
Reach out and touch somebody’s hand make this world a better place if you can – Diana Ross
One gift that can be challenging at times, is active listening. There are so many distractions in this world, so much noise and so much “busyness”, that we often do not concentrate and LISTEN when others are talking to us. To be listened to and HEARD is important. To prove that we have been actively listening, we should be able to repeat some of what was said to us. While working as a nurse, often, the only time for conversation with my patients was while I was doing something else at the same time. This worked in some situations, but often the emotional needs of my patients were not met. Now, retired, I am often too attached to my devices. I need to actively practice active listening.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19
These are just a few of the gifts we can give “poor as I am”. We can be His smile, His hands, feet and ears in a hurting world — and sometimes His mouth, too.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
My Tapestry Blog 
Our best gifts cannot be measured in dollars and cents or pounds and shillings.
LikeLiked by 1 person