Gifts of the Spirit.

This morning I was thanking God for the amazing gifts he has given me recently, both big and small. As I was thinking of thankfulness I was reminded that the most important gifts we can have are not gifts as we see them here, or as we monetize in our daily life, but more the gifts of the spirit.

These are things that are indeed gifts, little doses of heaven given to you in your soul and blossomed into fruits in the tree of your life. Wow, how beautiful, kind and wonderful is this God we call our savior. Up until this morning I thought of the gifts of the spirit as things we earned as we grew in our faith, maybe such as milestones we are rewarded as we go on this journey of faith, but no, they are gifts. We are given them out of God’s love for us as we live a faith filled life. Favor, friends, is fabulous.

The gifts of the spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Often broken down into the categories of ethical and intellectual. These gifts are essential to a happy and healthy life. These gifts encompass all that we are body, mind, and spirit. In the day in and day out of decision making, responsibilities, environments, and circumstances. These gifts give us the ability to recognize our creator and all that we are incapable of solving without the holy spirit in us. It’s the relational that changes the circumstance. It’s having the ability to process without fear and loving thy neighbor. It’s going after your dreams with hope and conviction. It’s a smile and a hug. A hand stretched out or an ear to hear. It’s problem solving, and strategic planning with a heart. It’s being slow to anger and listening. It’s trusting in God in the midst of trials, pain, and tribulation. It’s laughter and community.  It’s adoration to the one who empowers in  love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

I sit here this morning, awe inspired by this great love, and realize that Pentecost is just a few days away. The day that celebrates the day on which the Holy Spirit descended upon the followers of Jesus, and I thank God for the greatest gift of all. The Holy Spirit, and I pray to never forget nor dismiss the vitality of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Every day, no matter the situation, location or circumstance. He is always with us.

So, instead of thinking of Christmas day when you think about gifts, let everyday be a gift, after all Christ is among us every single day. The gifts are in and all around us, let’s celebrate!