Yesterday marked the 5th year of my mother’s homegoing on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2018. Besides Christmas, Valentine’s Day was her favorite holiday. She loved writing letters and cards and finding special gifts or treats to share with her friends, family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Those first few years after her death, I turned Valentine’s Day into a day in her honor. I just could not bear the day without her and didn’t want to be sad. In fact, in 2019, 2020, and 2021, I left the Christmas tree up but changed it into a Valentine’s tree instead. And especially that first year. There were special gifts Mom wanted her granddaughters to inherit like a fur coat, a piece of jewelry, and a financial inheritance. She had quite of few coats and pieces of jewelry, so it was easy to share. I saved those items for that following year so her grandchildren would know that they were cherished, remembered, and loved. Her grandsons received an inheritance too. It was only in her death though that they received these extravagant gifts.
It reminds us of our Savior’s extravagant display of love and generosity. You see Jesus, had to suffer and die to restore the Father’s children to their rightful inheritance. It was only in His death that we were made heirs of the promises of God. And only then could we inherit every good gift He has laid up for His heirs. Yes, there are literal blessings like homes, finances, good jobs, health, and more. But there are also spiritual treasures and gifts God intends for us to have, like wisdom, discernment, and the gifts of the Spirit. But like any gift or inheritance, we have to receive and unwrap whatever blessings He longs to bestow.
During those first few years, I decorated not just the tree but set a lovely table with my mother’s beautiful China, crystal glasses, and dishes, I had inherited. And I prepared a family meal as well. I also included gifts for my two sons-in-law with items in her memory. And I had a seamstress make special stuffed animals from her clothing and blankets for the great-grandchildren: a stuffed Betty Bunny one year and a stuffed Betsy Bear another year. The grandchildren went on a treasure hunt to find their stuffed animals.
This reminds me of God. He is the Author of all good things. He sets a banquet table before us every day with His Word. He longs to impart treasures to us from His heart. And sometimes He even sends us on a treasure hunt in His Word to find some particular understanding or truth in scripture or just a note of His love just for us!
He is a good and generous Father. He longs to give us every perfect gift that comes down from Heaven. What gifts is He waiting for you to receive from Him? Draw close and unwrap all the goodness and gifts He longs to give you. Maybe it’s a gift of writing you’ve yet to unwrap. Or maybe a new talent like painting you have yet to discover, or a child you’ve longed to have. Draw close to Him and unwrap His goodness and gifts for you. Trust Him and obey. He wants to display His extravagant love.
Beloved:
Do you know that you are My great delight? Every day I display gifts; like a beautiful painted sunset or birds singing, and flowers beginning to bloom to show you, My constant love. I long for you to draw near to Me. I have a special blessing just for you and just because I love you. Come close to Me beloved one.
“This is how God showed His love among us; He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” (1 John 4:7-8)
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.” (James 1:17)
“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promises.” (Gal. 3:29)
