Column - The greatest gift you can give

Talk about it

This time of year, more than any other, our thoughts turn to gift giving and gift receiving. We consider what we will give to whom, and wonder what we would like to receive. It’s a curious thing, this emphasis on the urge to give gifts, driven by advertising and retailers. Why just this time of year? Is it a response to what the Wise Men did as gift giving about 2,000 years ago? Do we even consider them as the standard bearer of gift giving? After all, our secular society is pushing away from the Christian symbols of the Christmas holiday.

Protests over Nativity scenes in public squares, Christmas trees in public buildings, or children’s Christmas programs at public schools are now more common than ever. So, maybe the next “attack on Christmas” will be the idea of doing away with gift giving. Somehow, I don’t think our consumer-driven economy and desire to buy things will allow that to happen.

So, if gift giving is going to continue, what value should we put on it and how should we share in the giving?

Giving a gift should be something of use to the receiver and something of joy to the giver. Some of that can be accomplished with material things. But, what is a lasting gift? One that can endure a lifetime, repair or improve relationships, and carve a path toward caring for each other. I say that gift is “forgiveness.”

The Apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians 13:13, “Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.” It is interesting that the “greatest of these” is also the hardest. Loving one another amongst all the hurtful and mean things we do to each other is a very high hurdle to get over when trying to deal with mankind. Could it be that a pathway to even beginning to love one another is to practice forgiveness?

There are 8,543 books listed on Amazon.com regarding the subject of forgiveness. They probably run the gamut of philosophy, social issues, psychology and spiritual “self-improvement.” Just the number of books for sale on the subject indicates what a difficult issue it is for mankind. It is interesting that so many authors have so many opinions on the matter.

Understanding forgiveness undertakes a whole range of human emotions. What should it look like? What should it sound like? How do I do it? I suspect those answers are different with all of us. I believe the key to forgiveness is to put aside the past and not hold any more grudges or expect compensation from the person being forgiven. Forgiveness should be given with no expectation of something in return. The person being forgiven may even react very badly. But, for you, the act of forgiveness has been done and a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

It has been said that forgiveness has the greatest benefits for the “forgiver.” I believe that to be true because it is such a difficult thing to do.

In this season of peace, joy and hope, consider a gift of forgiveness and make it an ongoing lifestyle choice. Give it with a true heartfelt spirit of conviction and absolution. You will find joy in your heart and a sense of peace in your countenance. This time I’m Not Just Sayin’ – I know it to be true.

  

“It’s the hardest thing to give away and the last thing on your mind today.”

– from “Forgiveness,” by Matthew West

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DuWayne Paul of Alexandria is a regular contributing columnist for the Echo Press.

Tags: opinion, columns