The Christmas decorations are finally down! Maybe it was because of the pandemic, but I had a tougher time putting everything away this year.  Yet, it feels good to keep moving forward.

A solid month now since Christmas, I have found a couple of small gifts in my closet that I forgot to wrap up and give my daughters!  This happened last year too!   

Leading up to Christmas, my kids find great joy in asking me over and over again if they can go into my closet.  They know I have gifts in there.  They also know the answer will never be “yes”! 

I must have really hid these! Because they were just little gifts, I totally forgot about them!  The girls were so excited and surprised to receive their forgotten Christmas gift in February. Pillow cases personalized with their names.  It wasn’t a small gift to them.   

What about the gifts God has given you? The things you are good at that help others.  I can tend to hide those things away too. Usually it’s because, in my opinion, they aren’t good enough and I forget about them. Have you thought that about your gifts? That maybe what you have to offer isn’t enough or doesn’t  matter? Maybe it’s not up to us to decide.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10

He has given you many gifts.  Personalized with your name.  Some are more obvious than others. Which ones are you hiding from the world?  It may be time to share them with others.

God, sometimes it’s easier to think we have nothing to offer others. Would you show us what gifts you have given us and then give us the courage to use them. Allow us to hear your voice and not the enemy’s. Your voice reminds us that we have a purpose and that you will use our gifts to bless others.  Guide us and lead us today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.