Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights,

with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.

James 1:17 (New American Standard Bible)

 

The Imperfect Gift Became Perfect

In the 90’s when my mother downsized and moved into an apartment in a retirement home, she gave my sister and me a number of her treasured possessions. One of the items passed on to me was a cut glass sugar and creamer set. At that time cut glass was revered and I would use the set with pride when serving coffee or tea to visitors. One day the sugar bowl caught my eye. Upon examining it, I realized that while the creamer was indeed cut glass, the sugar bowl was pressed glass, two differently made pieces and of two different patterns.

            When questioned about this discrepancy, my mother told the following story. “The woman who gave me the creamer and sugar, was from a wealthy family, but by the time I married, she was older, alone, and the money was gone. My suspicion is she chose something her family had owned as my wedding gift.”

            In thinking about this story, I realized that this gift-giving act showed the courage and strength of someone whose life had changed and not for the better.

The people in this small town knew that at one time her gifts were among the finest. Because the bride always displayed received presents, the woman could have written my mother of note wishing her the best, but skipped the wedding, or dropped something off sometime after the wedding, thus avoiding comparisons to the gifts of times past. But she didn’t; instead, she fully embraced the wedding tradition, let people think what they may and gave what she had—a mismatched sugar and creamer set.

            I love this story because it exemplifies someone strong enough in her own self not to be pressured into buying something she couldn’t afford just to save face, nor would she bow to the fears of ridicule and miss fully participating in this celebratory event.

Who knew that so many years later, the mismatched, which makes it even more special, sugar and creamer would be the favored gift? I hope it is passed down through the family for generations with the story of the woman who had the courage to give what she had. The reminder of the importance of acting with strength and courage and not bowing to fear is timeless.

            Thought:  In the shadow of social media and all of the posts about perfect lives, it is so easy to feel inadequate. Reality is that perfection only exists with God, and when we give Him what we have, even if it is mismatched, He can make the most imperfect gift perfect.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear;

But of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible KJ Version)