My mother bought four very special cake plates with cups while our family visited the gift store at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. She’d always wanted “bone China” dishes. She tucked the cups and plates away to use for some future special occasion. She had a few lovely tablecloths passed down in the family, a hand-crocheted queen-sized bedspread made by her mother, and a crazy quilt that was a wedding gift from friends for my paternal grandmother. Mom received gifts of clothing over the years, too. She’d “model” the dress or pants suit and the outfit would be flattering and perfect. She’d look fantastic. And then, she would carefully tuck it all away and never enjoy it.
Perhaps saving things had to do with growing up during the Depression and the desire to make things last as long as possible. After Mom passed, the lovely dishes and clothing were donated to a charity. Tablecloths and quilt came out of storage moldy and rotted from the moist coastal Oregon climate and ended up thrown away.
I notice I do the same thing, and not just with things.
What do we do with the gifts God gives us?
Save God’s peace for tough times when it is available 24/7/365.
Tuck away His unfailing love for all and grumble about the fallen world.
Neglect the reading of His Word and miss wisdom and knowledge.
Forget the joy of our salvation is meant for more than two days a year.
Skip church and miss renewing mind and heart in community.
Refuse forgiveness and suffer needless shame and guilt.
Cling to old patterns and fail to be salt or light in the world.
So many gifts given — so little time to enjoy them. Don’t let them go to waste.