[Tweet “We make a living by what we get- we make a life by what we #give. #CHRISTmas”]

I love to give gifts- but that silly money thing gets in the way so many times.    $$$$

Sometimes I indulge in dreaming what I could do with a lottery win. (of course you have to play to win 😉 )

That’s when I remind myself not to underestimate intangible, priceless gifts that give fulfillment to the soul, rather than the transient pleasure of materialism.

Here’s more free gifts that just keep giving!  🙂

1- Help–  this quote by Ronald Regan helps me keep helping in perspective 😉  “You can’t help everyone but you can help someone!” and “Helping a person won’t necessarily change the world- but it will change that someones world.”

2- Unjealousy– lol – I made up this word but I try to gift this attitude to everyone. It’s ungrateful to God to compare my life with anyone else. Give the gift or being happy for others achievements and blessings.

3- Family– God created us to live in clans called Family- where we can love and be loved and learn to live authentic lives- encouraging each other as we journey to our real home with God.  Family is not necessarily by birth (I’m adopted 🙂 )  So I’ve learned to offer the gift of Family!   So many people are alone- or lonely- or separated from their family- but we can open our arms and say- Come on in. We’d love to have you join our family!

4- Happiness- The best way to multiply happiness is to share it. There are 2 ways to spread happiness; either be the light that shines it- or be the mirror that reflects it.

5- Compassion–  “The LORD’s faithful love never ceases; His compassion never fails.” Lamentations 3:23- Wow! That I would learn to love like that!!  My love has limits and I physically can’t have compassion for everyone or my heart would surely break. But- I’m learning to be filled with His inexhaustible supply of love and compassion.  Col. 3:12 urges us to “Put on compassion”. I think compassion is like putting on glasses- suddenly- God lets me see past people’s irritating “faults” and see what they are suffering.

Then He fills me with His compassion to do something about it.

6- Comfort– Who among us has not been brokenhearted? Remember that pain! Throw your arms around someone who needs to be comforted! I’ve learned I have to shut my brain off from any multi-tasking and be 100 percent present and enter into their world of hurt.  Uncomfortable?  Yes! But True comfort comes flows from heart to heart- not from trite words or cliche phrases.

7- Friendship–  “Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” Ann Landers

8- A Song–  Sorrow and worry steal the song of God’s rejoicing and grace. Sing His song of love to those you meet- be a melody of grace in the life of others.

9- Forgiveness– “In the shadow of my hurt- forgiveness feels like a reward to give my enemy. But in the shadow of the cross- forgiveness is merely a gift from one undeserving soul to another.”  Andy Stanley

10-  Inclusion– The gift of inclusion – while we often draw circles to shut people out- God’s love draws a circle to take people in.  You want to glorify God????  🙂  Romans 15:7 mandates, “Christ accepted you-  accept one another also- so that God will be given glory.”  nuff said. 

[Tweet “It’s not how much we #give- it’s how much #love we put in the giving. #CHRISTmas “]

Click here if you want to read Part 1 of Free but Priceless Gifts for Christmas and Beyond

Surprising Treasure: Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”