All that I am

Preparing breakfast early one morning this week, my little ones (now ages eight and six) sat at the table and waited for their favorite part of the breakfast, hot chocolate.  I balanced preparing their snacks, lunches for school and my thoughts.  I asked my girls, if you were visiting the baby Jesus, what gifts would you take?  My oldest one chimed in with a bright smile and said, “I would take him my prayers…”  My youngest, shortly thereafter exclaimed, “I would take him all that I am.”  Each of my daughters reminded me of the essence of what it means to have an authentic relationship with God.

Thinking about my daughters' responses, I recall a colleague of mine who was heavily involved in the last political campaign.  In his early sixties, he relentlessly and kindly shared his views when the opportunity presented itself.  He educated himself on the issues, shared his opinion, and more than that, simply handed out bumper stickers to anyone who accepted them.  Like my children, he exemplified what it means to give.  He is not a prominent figure in the community, or a commentator on a popular news channel.  He is a warmhearted man giving all that he is for what he believes important.

JoanChittister (1992), in her book, The Rule of Benedict states, “We can study church history forever and never become holier for the doing.  There are theology courses all over the world that have nothing whatsoever to do with the spiritual life.  In the same way, we may think we are a community or assume we are family but if we do not serve one another we are, at best, a collection of people who live alone together" (p. 169).  There are many challenges in the world to deal with, but in them we find opportunities to have an authentic relationship with God by giving and serving our neighbors.  In choosing this path, we deliver to Jesus the greatest and most important gift we can give.  When we give all that I am, home life is enriched, our communities more neighborly and the world is a better place, but it must first begin in the mind and heart that springs forth in prayer and continues with a heart that is open to exclaim, I will give all that I am.

Resources

• Catholic Charities USA
• CharityWater.org
• Invisible Children

Gifts to Our Children by Service to Our Neighbor

 

Give to Catholic World Mission

As we enter into the season of giving, you may have some interest in volunteering, or introducing a young person to this aspect of community-fellowship. The message from our Lord is clear and should touch the depth of our hearts, and can only be modeled for our young people to understand by what we do more than what we say about how giving is important in meeting the temporal needs of others, and eternal needs beyond what is immediately apparent.

This observation is nothing new as the following excerpts indicate from as far back as 1899 to "modern day" 1947":

"Education consists in preparing the moral character of a child, in teaching him the few fundamental invariable principles accepted in all the countries of the world. It consists in giving him, from tenderest childhood, the notion of human dignity" (Lecomte Du Nouy, 1947. Human Destiny, p. 208). 

"In a day when selfishness brings so many temptations, [the Bible] supplies us with information and knowledge of what God has done and can do with individuals and nations given over to His service...[The Bible]...will mean very little to the modern man unless he reads and hears and answers its challenge...." (Ted Evans, 1928. What Place Religion? p. 159). 

"...[W]hether the parent likes it or not, whether the parent knows it or not, whether the parent helps it, hinders it, or ignores it, the education of the unconscious is ever going on...The soul (unconsciously) observes and reflects and assimilates the countless products of nature and art which enter it. The result is formation of character, and all which we call life is impressed. The influences from without make a man what he is" (Alfred T. Schofield, 1899. The Unconscious Mind, p. 190).

As we consider the days ahead and the gifts we will exchange, wrapped in either the love shared at a special meal, giving aid to the homeless, or a favorite holiday paper, may we give a momentary thought to the gift we give our children wrapped in our actions on the value of human dignity served by our time and attention to those less fortunate.

Many blessing to each and everyone and may there be joy in every home and in the hearts of those you touch by your generosity.