You are God’s gift.
I recall some people having a problem with the phrase “being God’s gift”. I know some people use it to disparage others who they consider to have a high opinion of themselves. The reality is, though, that you really are God’s gift.
You’re God’s gift to me. From the time you emerged in the world to the moment that I type these words I see so many ways in which my life is better because you are in it. You bless me tremendously by being you. By being my firstborn child. By being a woman of integrity and justice. By being a woman with a clear sensitivity to what is right and an overwhelming and underlying desire to do what’s right. Your intellect is on point, your capacity to have rapport and converse and engage and inspire is something I really marvel at. I am grateful for your many gifts and abilities, I’m even more blessed however that they are housed in a character that sees the problem with pride and self-adulation and is learning the benefits of humiltiy and selflessness for the benefit of others. You know that I wouldn’t paint a picture of you as though you’re flawless in every way and you have no detrimental aspects to you. You know that. But I don’t have to dwell on those at all because of the much more overriding personal qualities that make you the remarkable human being you are.
You’re God’s gift to your family and friends. Those qualities that mark you distinctly as being a beautiful human being make such a difference to those around you. The first place I notice that is in your engagement with the next born after you. You and your sister have such a strong connection and understanding and friendship, that I applaud God for His genius in making you sisters. Of course you love your last sister, there’s no doubt about it and that relationship is rich with promise and precious. Yet it is that one you have with the next born. The strength of it, the way you complement each other and support each other that’s remarkable to me. The core aspects of that relationship are what I believe drives the other relationships that matter to you. And it’s because of those strong relationships that I now have more children than came from your mother’s womb, because you made friends that I consider to be those who are as likely to inherit whatever I have to give as you and your sisters. You’re that kind of friend – not shallow, not for the superficial association – but for what really matters in the life of the other. I admire that trait in you and I know it makes you a blessing to those who have the privilege of knowing you.
You’re God’s gift to humanity. At this stage of your development, you can take significant strides in getting to know more about how God deliberately designed you to be a blessing to humanity around you. It no longer has to be consigned or contained in a compulsory educational facility. It does not have to be restricted to whatever life was before. You stand and look at the wide open doors of opportunity for you to explore and discover. As far as I am concerned you are under no undue pressure to live up to anyone’s standards of what life should be. You’re at the wonderful stage to consider carefully God’s prompts and nudges to where you can be of maximum benefit and blessing to those in your sphere of influence. It’s a great step you take now to uncover and embrace those ways in which you can apply your mind, heart, voice and hands to making the difference in your world. As you do that developing further those crucial human qualities that help and build others, so you’ll blossom further in being that blessing to others that matters so much. I have every confidence in God that you will blossom and flourish. That’s not a life of ease at all; it is a life of growth through challenge and the joys and pains of learning in setbacks. Though we know not what time we have left on the earth, as long as there is breath in your body and the ability to do and be, I trust God that you will exercise your doing and being to estbalish a life that turns people onto consider what really matters in life and how their lives can truly be enriched in investing in those things.
You are God’s gift, my dear Firstborn, especially for as long as you recognise your key role in being that channel of blessing from God to others. It is my great honour and delight to be your father. I am so grateful to God for you – for who you have been, for who you are and for God will reveal you to be to us all as the days go by. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your honour. Thank you for your respect. Thank you for your concern. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your smile that we both know should be sponsored by a particular company not mentioning any Colgate names whatsoever. Thank you for being real and vulnerable with me as and when you can. Thank you for being true and committed to the truth as you see it propelling the core of who you are. Thank you for supporting Liverpool Football Club. Thank you for enjoying music. Thank you for your desire to enjoy life and enable others to find joy in it too. Thank you my dear Firstborn. I love you.
You are God’s gift.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 