(1 Chronicles 29:14b)

When we love someone deeply, we invest a lot of time to find a gift that’s “just right” for them. We spend time looking through catalogs and visiting stores until we find something that sends just the right message.

Why don’t we approach giving gifts to the Lord with the same joy? After all, we acknowledge that He’s our Father.

Our parents were happy to receive any little trinket we made for them as we were growing up. Even today, they appreciate every card, every gift, every kindness we show them.

What can we give to God, our heavenly Father, to show Him how much we love Him and how thankful we are to Him?

Strive to tithe
We can begin by prayerfully considering how much we give to God and our church and increase it if possible. Do you give out of what’s left? Try paying tribute to the Lord first.

Give your time
Just as our parents and all others we love value our time with them more than any gift, our church and our God value our time. It takes a tremendous amount of time, effort, and money to run a church. Often it’s the same people who help at events. What talents do you have that would help your church?

Care for those most vulnerable
Jesus said that when we give water to the thirsty, visit the sick, clothed the naked, and go to those in prison, we do the same to Him (Matthew 25:34-45). I think a gift to benefit the “least of these” would make the Lord very happy.

Give our attention
“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” is a common refrain when we give gifts to those we love. Writing a note that tells them how much we love them and that thanks them for all they’ve done for us would mean so much more to them. Spending time with those we love is a big part of showing them how much we care.

Talk to them
We email, text message, call, and chat with those we care about. But there are always those we love who we don’t seem to get to. Is it like that with God? We don’t always take time to talk to Him.

Isn’t it enough just to say our prayers?
We all have one friend who seems to only contact us when she wants something. It doesn’t feel like much of a friendship, does it?

But there are those special people who, no matter how long it’s been since you last spoke to or got a note from them, you’re always happy to hear from them. It doesn’t matter if it’s just a quick email to say “hi” or a card on your birthday; knowing the person thought of you brings a smile to your face, and sometimes a tear to your eye.

I imagine God feels that way about us.

He’s the parent who raised us to be independent and yet, loves when we call with a question or a problem we can’t figure out.

Of course, that’s when we tend to call on Him the most. When we need something.

Just as our earthly parents are always happy to hear from us, so is our spiritual parent. Just as our earthly parents long to hear from us more often, so does God.

We don’t have to be down on our knees to pray to the Lord. We don’t have to be heading off to sleep. We can talk to God throughout the day. We can thank Him for getting us through a boring meeting, praise Him for giving us patience to deal with a customer, and ask for wisdom to think through a problem.

We may feel all alone at times. But we’re not. We’re never alone.

We just have to swallow our pride and start the conversation.

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