The gift

Reclaim the joy of the gift.

A gift is given with the assumption that the receiver will be glad, happy, full of passion about the gift. A gift is given assuming there will be stewardship of the gift. The one giving the gift is excited for the receiver and the blessing on that person. The giver is all in with the receiver, fully trusting and sold that the receiver is worthy.

And, everyone has been generously given a free gift.

The job that one walks into today is a gift. At some point, someone saw something in you, believed in you, trusted you, and gave you a gift. The gift of a job is blessing.

For the leader, the gift is the position over people. The gift was given as a blessing, full of trust. The gift was given assuming great stewardship of the company, the team, the class, the people.

For the entrepreneur, the gift came from many. From free gifts of counsel to funding from investors to the gift of belief from those closest to you. Many gave the gift of confidence to allow you to take the step.

The family is full of free gifts. A spouse freely gives a heart to another, fully trusting and depending on the other. Children are a free gift, following the parent, believing their guide will show them the way through the peaks and valleys. The gift of a family is a blessing.

For the student, the gift is the opportunity to attend school given by someone. The gift was given with full trust that one would capitalize on the opportunity. The gift was given assuming stewardship. The gift was given as a stepping stone for future great things.

But, somewhere along the journey, the risk is that the gift causes one to grumble. What once was a light becomes dark. The gift that one was so grateful to receive becomes a burden. The gift passionately received is now viewed with bitterness. The risk is that the blessing of the free gift becomes a curse.

How can this be?

The answer can only be because one has turned the free gift into an object of glorification. One has changed the purpose of the free gift.

In every situation, the assumption, the ultimate purpose of the free gift is that it would be a blessing to other people. The light of the free gift would shine through to others. Many would be blessed. This is true for every job, every parent, every spouse, every leader, every student. The purpose of the free gift is to bless others.

The risk is that somewhere along the way, the free gift now illuminates only the one that received the gift. The free gift is used for self-glorification. The entrusted gift is a means to lift the receiver up, to shout their own name. The gift becomes mechanism for taking versus giving. The only purpose of the gift is to quench selfish desires.

The result is dissatisfaction with the giver, the company, the spouse, the child, the team. The result is that service and hospitality end. It is impossible to serve others if one grumbles about the gift. What once was stewardship turns to self promotion which turns to bitterness and negativity.

To flip the script is simply to remember the free gift that one received. Remember the joy of the gift. Remember the eyes of the giver that were full of generosity. Remember that the gift was free, undeserved.

But, most of all, remember that the gift was never to stop with you. The purpose of the free gift that you received was to impact others.

Win the mental game today. Flip the script.

Impact others. Live generously.