I have never been very good at receiving – help, or gifts, or compliments, or anything that you are supposed to receive, really.

It’s not that I don’t like or appreciate the gifts that people give me, they just make me feel uncomfortable – like I don’t know what to do with it.

Friend: Hey Jami, you are really pretty. 

Me: Haha… oh. Okay. 

Me inside my head: JUST SAY THANK YOU AND TAKE THE COMPLIMENT, JAMI! 

I have learned a lot about accepting and receiving the things that people give. I have learned to think about it from my own perspective and how I would feel if someone didn’t receive the “gift” that I was giving them – I would be sad/upset that they didn’t take it. I usually put thought (whether it be a little or a lot) into giving somebody something, and I get sad or frustrated when someone makes an effort to avoid it. So why would  I refuse someone else the opportunity to give me something that they put thought into (whether a little or a lot), and cause them to be sad or frustrated or whatever negative thing that they might feel?

JUST RECEIVE THE GIFT!

When I was on bed rest for 6 weeks in East Africa, far away from my team, I had to learn to accept help from the friends, acquaintances, and strangers around me because I often could not help myself. I definitely think that was a good thing that came out of a terrible situation.

Two examples:

1. Today, I offered to get someone a soda because I was going to go get one for myself.  She tried to give me money (a $10 at that), and I said, no thanks, this one is on me! And she tried to fight me on it. I told her, “You get to be nice to people all the time, let someone be nice to you! Just receive!” I cannot count the amount of times she thanked me for the silly little soda today. A gift with very little thought behind it.
2. Think of it another way. After Adam and Eve sinned, God orchestrated an unimaginable plan to bring us back to him through the life, death, and resurrection of his only Son. He asks us to receive the gift that he has given to us, and often we say we don’t need it, or try to give something back for it (think $10 bill), or live ungratefully. But he patiently gives us opportunities to receive. A gift with a lot of thought behind it.

So my friends, as hard as it is to receive, remind yourself that you were thought of, that you maybe don’t deserve it but they want to give it to you anyway, and JUST RECEIVE IT!

Above all remember to daily receive the love, blessing, and grace that our Heavenly Father gives us new each morning with thankful hearts!

And if you haven’t received Christ’s amazing love, He is holding it out, waiting for you to put out your hands and receive, and I am praying that you will do just that.