Be a Gift (Bot9 #318)

I had the opportunity to travel out of state to a former player’s wedding this weekend. This family has been a tremendous gift in my life and the least I could do was come be a part of the wedding day. We’re going on a decade of being in each other’s lives and I’m looking forward to many more years of life together.

Gifts are a big part of any wedding day. For this player’s gift, I knew exactly what I was going to get them. He just started coaching baseball at the high school level and I want to encourage his journey. He has a brotherhood to build at his school. The gift? A smoker. An opportunity to create a space where the guys can come and eat, hang, and be with one another to build relationships. He’s been a part of our brotherhood and now he’ll have a chance to build up his community in the same way. Community is a gift from God and I feel called to help encourage others build their brotherhoods.

This idea came from sitting with a friend over lunch. We’ve had guys start to reach the end of their college playing days or start to coach. They’re starting to step forward in leadership and I was trying to figure out how to bless that journey. At first, I had a thought to buy them a smoker. I dismissed it. Honestly said to myself, “That’s crazy.” Then I sit down to lunch with this friend and I ask him how we can encourage these guys. He immediately said, “Let’s buy them smokers.” Literally about fell out of my chair. God works like this when we accept His gifts, you know?

So now this is the second former player who has started their coaching journey recently and we’ve blessed both in the same way. I wonder if we should think about the gifts God gives us like this. He provides for us in such abundance and in the most amazing ways. He provides every breath and opportunities to thrive in this life. He provides a route for salvation in eternal life. He gives us these free gifts to be in relationship with us (Ephesians 2:8) and one another (Mark 12:31). Sitting together, breaking bread (and smoked meat), and blessing one another with our presence brings the joy of the Lord to a field, a backyard, or wherever a smoker might be in use. His gifts are amazing things.

All we can do in response is try to be gifts to other people. Those who are trying to be a gifts in the world POUR out their lives on people. They are:

P - Present
O - Others-focused
U - Unconditional
R - Real

When you’re with a gift, they are present. There’s no one and no thing more important than you at that moment.

When you’re with a gift, they are focused on others. Their sole focus is you and how to make other people better.

When you’re with a gift, they love you without condition. They don’t expect anything in return for their presence and focus.

When you’re with a gift, they’re a real representation of a living God we cannot see. They help you realize that God is as real now as He has been since the beginning.

What I’m coming to realize is how rare such people are in the world. There are a lot more people who think they are God’s gift to others, the game, and every room they enter. They are focused on themselves, what they want, how to manipulate others, and only love you for what you can give them. While being a gift to others is hard, it’s something we can learn. We can move beyond distraction, focusing on ourselves, loving through conditions and works, and putting up the protective facade of the ego. Pour your life out on others and experience the blessing of God and others!

If you’re interested in building your brotherhood, please reach out. Maybe we can bless you in the same way!