Priceless Gift
by Jennifer Allton
http://jmgarnet76.blogspot.com
The best things in life are things that you can not assign a monetary value. A price can not be placed on true friendship. When I was 13, I moved away from the only home I knew. The day I moved, I thought I had lost everything so I held onto the one thing that no one could take away: my memories. Slowly those memories faded, but sometimes in the night dreams would waken me that were so real it was as if I was actually back at home. I realized it was God just giving me a moment with my friends.
Chronically ill patients sometimes are not very wealthy, but I consider myself rich beyond belief. Commonly when people think of wealth, the things that come to mind are money, valuable belongings and property. People probably think of how wealthy others are to determine how wealthy they think they are. If you live in an area where everyone drives fancy cars and you drive a clunker, then you probably don't feel very wealthy. However if you live in an area where you're surrounded by mobile homes and you live in a two story home, you more than likely feel very rich.
This is the season where people are thinking about purchasing gifts for loved ones. Somewhere along the way, this gift giving phenomenon has turned into a competition of who gives the better gifts. However if you think back to your favorite memories, those items that you cherish as adults probably had no monetary value assigned at all. Wealth generally means an abundance of something. A year ago if someone were looking in my cabinets, they might find a wealth of needles, syringes, heparin, saline, vitamins and pills.
Now if they were to look into my closet, they would find hangers full of clothes and an unused IV pole. Food would be found in my refrigerator and deep freezer. These are things to which a price can be assigned.
Now if someone were to look into my heart, they would find a wealth of something that no amount of money can be given. They would find something that no one can take away. They would find an abundance of compassion, laughter, happiness, friends, memories and so much more. I have a wealth of beautiful memories that no one can take away.
God has also given me something that is such a wonderful gift. It's a gift so delightful that you can't assign it monetary value. He gave me friends that have left indelible marks on my soul. So this year when you are thinking about gifts that you can give your family and friends, choose something that is invaluable. Give your time, your friendship and your love. Don't wait for someone to say, "I need you." Offer up prayers constantly, offer up assistance when able and give completely of yourself. Those are the things that decades down the road your loved ones will remember as the greatest gift of all.
Today I thank God that I am wealthy. My prayer is that all of you can be wealthy too. My challenge for you today is to open up your bible and locate a verse for each of your friends and give it to them. Give them the gift of God as I give my word of God to you:
“Do you not know? Have you not heart? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40: 28-32.
