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Gifts

Sometime this past decade I decided that I had more than enough things. When folk ask me what I want for a birthday or Christmas present I've asked for experiences instead.  The experience can be a nice quiet inexpensive meal together; for special gifts I've asked for tickets to concerts.

I look around at all the things that I have and somehow "have" doesn't seem to be the right word. 90% of it all seems to be things I have accumulated but no longer or rarely use. These objects all have a pull on me, the memory of their past usefulness. Many times those memories are mundane and not part of who I am. I try to divest when I can.

As I do I find myself loathe to part with some things, even if I no longer use them and know that in donation there is a chance that someone else could. There is the real sore spot; some complacent greed I have for the blessings God has given me in stewardship. I work at it, for this is not who I want to be but who I have let myself become to some extent.

I want to provide for my family in all the important ways and not just financially do my share. On the other hand I came into this world naked and I would not be upset to leave it empty-handed.

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