by Jill Pearson
When God designed the intricate structure of our DNA, he wove into it our desire to give. He knew society would depend on it for survival. He knew the church would thrive when giving was practiced freely. Acts of unselfishness and generosity are commanded of us because God knows what is best for our weary souls and for his Kingdom’s reputation. The mind-blowing part is that giving has nothing to do with the type or amount. The poor widow gave barely a penny and yet Jesus called his disciples into a huddle and said, “Learn from her.” We have surely seen how the smallest act of kindness can change the course of someone’s day, or our own.
God also established himself as the Great Giver of Gifts, one of the many attributes that keeps our eyes fixed on him. He reminds us that sometimes the gift is in the suffering as it builds resilience and compassion, and sometimes the gift comes at the end of the suffering, and sometimes the gift is unexpected, small, and delightful. At the root of His gifts and our giving is and should always be LOVE.
This month, we explore gifts from a variety of angles. Carla Addison shares of a difficult infertility journey that prepared her to gratefully receive the gift of a child, and Katie King shares her testimony of the “messy middle,” a place none of us love, but where God meets us with his grace and provision. Pastor Kyle elaborates on the genesis of the upcoming church musical in “The gift of a story.”
We’ll enjoy tips on holiday hospitality from Ingrid Ansell, a delicious recipe from Katie Yager, and some cozy reading recommendations from Melissa Meyers. We are also re-sharing a popular piece from Deb Zeldenrust about the art of giving. I hope The Stir has been a gift to you, a way to get to know the wonderful women of Calvary and be edified by their stories of God’s good gifts.
Jill Pearson is co-editor of The Stir, wife to Dave, and mom to three young adults who have flown the nest but are easily lured back with an offer of dinner. She owns and operates Riverwood Studio, an art education business, and finds creative ways to serve at Calvary.