God so loved the world that he gave …

'God so loved the world that he gave …'

Archbishop Miller There are many wise and worthy quotations around giving, beginning with scripture: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Christmas, the event of the coming into the world as the Christ Child, is God’s gift to us. Indeed, God’s divine affection for us is the genesis of our expressions of affection for others at this time of year.

Once I received an astonishing and unexpected gift in the Toronto airport, a gift I still treasure. When my turn came to check-in at the Air Canada desk the clerk said: “I’m sorry Mr. Miller but the plane is over-booked. You have been bumped, and will have to wait until the first flight in the morning.”

I couldn’t believe it and my body language must have expressed my thoughts. A fellow passenger came to me and said, “Bishop, I know that you are busy and must be home tonight. I have the time to stay over in your stead.” The generosity of his gift overwhelmed me.

May the gifts you give — have given always, be the God-given gift of self-sacrifice, and may the gift of Jesus bring you much joy and peace through Christmas and the New Year!

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PS
Here are a few more fine quotations about gifts and generosity.

Thomas à Kempis, the Medieval Catholic monk —
“A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver.”

Sir Henry Taylor, the English dramatist —
“He who gives what he would as readily throw away gives without generosity; for the essence of generosity is in self-sacrifice.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous American essayist —
“The only gift is a portion of thyself.”

Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta —
“If you give what you do not need, it isn't giving.”