Is there anything sweeter than receiving a gift from a little child? Every mother who has been the recipient of a “present” from the sticky hands of her toddler can tell you that the gift is precious, and not because it’s useful to her. Its value lies in the heart of that little child, who offers love in the guise of a scribbled card, or a plastic plate of leaves from the garden, that – maybe if you squint – looks a little bit like “cookies.” But the heart of a mother can receive this gift as a true expression of the child’s love; and both hearts become more bonded, more secure, more deeply loving.
Gratitude is that which opens our hearts in receptivity to the other; in gratitude, we find the gift of connection. We may receive gifts for which we are truly grateful – something we needed or wanted. But the true gift is always the connection we have to the giver of that gift.
In our daily time of prayer with the Lord, we “enter His courts with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100). If prayer seems dry or you don’t know what to pray, start with gratitude. Go down your litany of all the little gifts of the day, or make a list of all the blessings in your life that have come from the hands of God. Soon your heart will be overflowing with love and praise.
We can also see this from another angle in our relationship with God. Just as a mother treasures those little gifts from her child, so God receives all our little offerings with tender joy. Just like that sticky-handed toddler carrying a fist of leaves to her mother, so God looks at you with tears in His eyes, receiving every little self-sacrifice, every little prayer. Not because He needs it, but because He desires our hearts so tenderly and mercifully; and He will take you up in his arms with true gratitude for the gift of your heart, so precious to Him.
