06/02/2026
The Act of Receiving (and Giving) a Gift
We live with many regrets. Whenever we make decisions—large or small—there is always the possibility that, in time, we may look back and wish we had chosen differently. These regrets can either linger and trouble us, or, by God’s grace, become teachers that shape us into wiser and more attentive people.
One such moment has stayed with me over the years.
Long ago, the mother of a girlfriend gave me a bottle of cologne for my birthday. It was not an expensive gift—her family did not have much to give—but it was offered with genuine love and quiet generosity. Later that evening, I went home… and left it sitting on the counter.
That simple act of forgetting—of leaving a gift behind—has returned to me many times. It became, and still remains, a persistent lesson: do not leave a gift unreceived.
Today, we are reminded of something far greater—the gift of God’s grace. Grace is given to us in abundance, immeasurable in its depth, power, and goodness.
Yet, how often do we walk away from it?
How often do we, like I did that day, leave the gift behind?
This gift was not given lightly. It came at great cost—the life of Jesus Christ, poured out on the cross for us.
So I offer this prayer for you in the days ahead: Do not leave behind the grace of God. In your rising, in the rhythm of your day, and as you lay down to rest—receive it. And as you receive, give it freely to others. For in both receiving and giving, you will find yourself filled anew with the abundant provision of God’s grace.
Soli Deo Gloria!
