For Memorial Day I took my soldier cupcakes.  Garrett still enjoys a little mothering sometimes and home baked goodies usually hit the spot.  We chatted a bit about Memorial Day and all that it means to the military community.  In the course of our conversation, he commented on how many people offer him meals when he is in uniform.  It often makes him feel uncomfortable to accept these gifts. Recently he was out with 7 of his National Guard buddies at a fast food restaurant and a lady offered to buy all of their meals. He turned her down because he thought it was too much to pay for all  8 of them.  The others were a little upset that Garrett didn’t accept her offer but he didn’t feel right about it.

It’s often difficult to accept a gift when you are generally the giver.  A soldier is by nature a servant. He or she would not volunteer for this duty if they didn’t have a servant heart. Much is said in the Bible about giving. ” Be a cheerful giver!”  “Give and it will be given to you!” We are encouraged to give sacrificially. But what about when you are the receiver? How best is it to respond in a situation like Garrett’s?

Jesus is a great example of what it means to be a gracious receiver.  Let’s be honest. Jesus doesn’t really “need” anything from us but it gives him great joy to receive the gifts we offer Him.  When he was dining at the home of Simon, a teacher of the law, a woman of ill repute crashed the party and began to anoint Jesus’ feet with a jar of expensive perfume.  The others in the room couldn’t believe that He didn’t scold her and send her away. In contrast, He praised her actions as she honored Him with her gift.  Jesus said that she would be remembered for all time for what she did for Him that day.  By accepting her gift, Jesus accepted her.  At that moment, she must have felt truly loved.

Another example of graceful receiving, is the apostle Paul, as he offered appreciation for the gifts given him by the Philippian church while he was in a Roman prison.  He wrote, “…not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.  Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.  They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.  And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”  Paul was not demanding of gifts from the church but he accepted their gifts whole heartedly as their offerings to God.  These sacrifices were credited to their account in Heaven.

These examples show us that it is just as important to be a good receiver as it is to be a generous giver.  When we accept a gift, we are accepting the person giving the gift. We are validating their care and concern for us.  We allow them to experience the joy of giving and the credit given to them in heaven for their gift.  The woman who anointed Jesus’ feet just wanted to thank him, in the only way she knew how, for the greatest gift anyone could ever give her:  Eternal Life.  The woman in the fast food restaurant just wanted to thank Garrett and the other soldiers for the gift of freedom that is ensured by their willingness to serve, in the only way she knew how, by paying for their meals.

So the next time Garrett is offered a meal as thanks for serving in the military, I encouraged him to accept it.  By accepting the gift, he validates the person’s motive for giving and allows them to experience the joy that follows.  He should never take advantage of his position or act as if he is deserving of more, but humbly acknowledge the gift and the giver.  Sometimes being the receiver can be the most difficult thing we ever have to do. Our culture encourages us to see ourselves as independent, in control and not in need.  The greatest gift ever given was paid for on a cross yet most people never accept it for this very reason.  Ultimately, humbly receiving that gift is the most important thing we will ever do.