Simple Gifts

2 Corinthians 1:12  NKJV  For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

Expounding on the contrast of Jesus the mighty King versus Jesus the baby born in humble circumstances, I've been considering simple gifts.  When I was a freshman in college we sang an arrangement by the King's Singers (ironically enough) of Simple Gifts - I'm not really speaking to the text of that song at all, but more so to the power of a simple gift given under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

When I consider giving a gift to someone for a birthday or Christmas or just as inspired, I consider that person and my relationship with them.  I consider their interests, goals, dreams, hobbies, etc that I have discussed with them in the time that I have spent with them.  As I do this and spend some time with that, inspiration invariably comes to me about something fun and interesting and hopefully useful that would be encouraging and uplifting to the recipient.

Sometimes (not all of the time) it is the most insignificant item that can carry substantial meaning.  To someone not in that relationship between friends or family a particular item doesn't seem to have much value.  Say for instance a music CD.  Itself has very little value, but perhaps two friends several years ago went to concert together and had a most memorable time together and then for whatever reason these friends lose contact.  As one friend is going through their day, they remember that that day is the other friend's birthday and gets to thinking about their relationship and remembers the concert.  This friend then purchases a CD of the group that they saw and sends it to the other friend with a warm note.  The value of this gift goes well beyond the simple value of the CD itself to it being a key that opens up something much bigger and more valuable.  Potentially lifting up the other person when they are having a particularly down day, week, month or year.

The gist of what I'm trying to get to is that it doesn't take an expensive and grand gesture to get a grand response or return.  If we can listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we walk out our days, a relatively simple act, can absolutely change someone's world.  Perhaps you'll be in line at the coffee shop tomorrow and get a nudge to buy a stranger their coffee.  You may not know it but you kick starting their day like that might put them in a mood to not want to fire that employee that day at work when something happens.

The empowerment of the grace of God allows you and I to be used to mighty things in the Kingdom of God.  These mighty things take place when enabled by the simple, seemingly most insignificant things taking place in our every day lives.  Practice tomorrow by carrying around in the your pocket blessing seeds of encouraging words that in various situations you bless folks all along your path.  Keep doing that and your life will be lived in the fruit of the blessing seeds that you have cast and come to harvest.