Giving Good Gifts
One
Father’s Day Gifts
Everybody knows that Father’s Day Gifts tend to be pretty awful. The little self-made cards, the ties with the weird patterns, and worst of all, the “World’s Greatest Dad” on mugs and hats and shirts. Obviously, these are not the things Dad would go out and buy himself – (“You know what I need? A World’s Greatest Dad hat! It’s high time people knew the truth!”) But he’s grateful for these gifts, because of the love they signify.
But has this ever happened in your family: while the kids are giving their gifts, they actually start fighting? Maybe they fight about who gets to give their gift first, or one kid makes a nasty joke about another kid’s gift, or the youngest kid wants to help Dad unwrap, and that makes the older one mad. That really ruins the whole feel of the thing. Dad isn’t looking forward to these gifts in the first place. He’s looking forward to the beauty of the moment. And the beauty of the moment is wrecked when the kids start complaining and fighting.
This is really worth thinking about when we start meditating on how to please our Heavenly Father.
Two
What a Dad Does Want
What does a Dad really want from his kids, especially on Father’s Day? As we just said, He doesn’t really care about their cheap little gifts. Dad’s at the age where he buys pretty much anything he wants from Amazon anytime he wants anything.
So what does he want from his kids? He wants them to be happy. He wants no fighting. He wants peace.
So what do we have to offer Our Father in Heaven? How do we show Him our love? What can we give Him? What do you get the Father who has everything? What do you get the Father who made, literally, everything out of nothing?
Maybe you get Him the same thing. You give Him cheerfulness. And you give Him no fighting. You give Him peace.
Three
Being Cheerful
Nothing wipes parents out like kids who complain all the time. And there’s plenty for kids to complain about. Maybe they’re getting sick, they maybe didn’t sleep well last night, maybe the don’t like the day’s lunch or dinner, maybe they’re bored, maybe they really wanted something and they just found out they can’t have it. But if they are always expressing dissatisfaction, it ruins the parent’s day.
The same goes with us in relation to God. We can always find plenty to complain about. Maybe we don’t feel well. Maybe we’re not sleeping well. Maybe we’re hungry. Maybe life’s been tedious lately or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, maybe life’s been overwhelming. And maybe there was something we really wanted and now it looks like we’re not going to get it.
Okay, so, do you want to give your Heavenly Father a gift? Be cheerful anyway. Don’t complain. Don’t be cranky. Today’s a gift for your Father. Thank Him for it, and celebrate Him by remaining joyful.
Four
Not Fighting
Kids fight about anything and everything. They fight about real stuff, like if one kid swiped all the cookies before anyone else could have any. And kids fight about totally stupid stuff, like who gets to use that one fork with the little frill on the handle.
Oh man, and nothing takes the joy out of parenting like your kids fighting. Some of you know what it’s like to have adult kids fighting, how it completely sours the joys of old age, when you see your grown children still acting resentfully towards one another. It’s one of the greatest tragedies, one of the greatest misfortunes in life, when you kids never stop fighting. And the same is true for the Heavenly Father.
Do you want to give Him a gift He’ll appreciate? Then look for opportunities to not get mad at people in your life. When your spouse, or your friends, or your family members do something rude, insensitive, disrespectful, or just plain irritating. Then make like Elsa and LET IT GO.
Think how much you appreciate it when one of your kids just shrugs something off, think how much you appreciate it when your kids aren’t getting mad, and don’t get mad. Just forget about it. That’s a real gift to God.
Five
At Mass
You know, at Mass the Priest says, “Pray, my brothers and sisters, that this, our sacrifice may be acceptable to God the almighty Father.”
Our sacrifice means “our gift”. It’s the gift we give to the Father. That gift is primarily Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. But it’s also anything we have that we can offer as a personal gift to God.
So what can you offer at mass? What sacrifice can you place on the altar? What gift can you offer your Heavenly Father? What gift do you think He would like? Well, now we know.
Maybe we showed up at mass cranky and anxious and not having a good day. So the first thing we can do, at mass, is to try and get back into the mindframe of cheerful gratitude. And we can sincerely say, “Lord, I offer my happiness, and my gratitude for all the unbelievable generosity you’ve shown me.”
That’s a good gift to offer Our Father.
The second gift is the gift of not being mad at anybody. Not friends or family. Not your wife or kids. Not the cantor who sings badly, or the priest who gets on your nerves, or the family over their whose kids are out of control.
If you are tempted to get irritated at any of those folks, then just think, “Oh good, just in time! Now I have a gift to give my Father. Now I have an offering, a sacrifice, to place on the Lord’s altar. And it’s one I know He’ll like.”