I received at least 2 phone calls from my Mother, (may she RIP),  over the years, where you could hear hurt, disappointment and sadness in her voice.

I wish I had received neither.

One of them was in October, she called to ask if we had forgotten her birthday.  (In June).

We (my wife, I am useless ), had for 25+ years sent a gift or check. Somehow we forgot that year.

Mom, didn’t tell us she was hurt, she was concerned  her present was lost in transit.  (Hurt, disappointment and sadness clearly evident in her voice).

Talk about feeling low….how could we forget her, when we always received  her  gifts a week early every time.

She was hurt and we were lower than low.

The other call was probably in April,  she had gotten her newest bank statement and I had not cashed the $25.00 birthday check.  (Received a week before my February birthday ).

I had opened the card, smiled, happy to receive the gift, closed the card and forgot it.

Somehow she sounded more hurt in this call.  The gift,  had been received but never accepted. (Cashed, used, appreciated ).

She wanted to please me, help me, be thanked by me, be appreciated, recognized.

She had received none of this from me.  I had received but never used her gift.

Saints, we received many gifts when we were saved, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

When we get to tongues and interpretation, the brakes come on,

(Notes from Reformation Study Bible)

Matthew 7:  good gifts. These gifts from the Father are the things Jesus has been describing as necessary for disciples: righteousness, sincerity, purity, humility, and wisdom.

Those who know their own need will ask God for them.  All want these.

The parallel in Luke 11:13 focuses on the one greatest gift—the Holy Spirit.

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

1 Corinthians 12 : 8-11
“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”

Romans 12:5-8
King James Version (KJV)
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”

All Christians share the grace of salvation through faith (2:5, 8). Each Christian is also given some particular gift of grace to benefit the church (Paul speaks of his own in 3:2, 8).

Imagine the hurt in the Lords voice, as we have access to, but leave His Gifts, still wrapped on the shelf.

Lord, help us to accept and use the Gifts You have given us.  That You would be recognized, magnified, glorified in our lives.

That people would be saved, healed, set free to love and honor You.

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