The meaning of gift: 
a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present:

The word "gift" is in the King James Version of the Bible 59 times. It is in 52 verses. 

If today you were given the news that you had only a few days to live ... In a matter of moments, many thoughts would flood your mind. Your heart would ache and your soul would grieve and possibly begin to weep... 

Do we cherish this gift of life or do we squander the moments??  Do we only place value on this gift when we are faced with that pivotal moment leading to our last breath?  

When we open the clues that are locked within the words of the Bible we can find The greatest Gift of life... 

It’s a gift that speaks life. It's a gift that speaks love. It looks at death as not the end but as a new exciting beginning. It crosses time. It crosses all boundaries. Its purity, and holds such wondrous beauty. It can not be contained and breathes the sweetness of life to our weary souls ... 

Most of us have felt the joy and excitement of receiving “a” gift... But what do we feel when we receive “The Gift”... There are NO earthy words to even begin to describe it!!  It leaves us speechless. 

Has the question crossed our minds? What sacrifice did God make to give us “The Gift”! 

Did He expect too much from mankind? Did He hope that maybe He miss read our hearts? He gave us “The Greatest Gift” He gave us the most beautiful part of Himself... We opened this gift and found such beauty, such grace, and such an amazing heart... It’s Him... Many call Him Jesus... 

But did we squander the moments? Did we value His life? Did we listen to His voice calling to our hearts? 

History has proven we let Him down... We allowed greed, hate, and fear, to rip this amazing earthly gift from our unworthy hands... 

Some hearts were wounded... Some turned their backs... Some washed their hands... Some grieved deeply but were powerless to stop this horrific moment in time... 

This story has been passed down through generations. It speaks of a man with a heavenly connection... It speaks of His purity and His great love..and the horrific suffering He endured, to give His children the monumental gift of eternal life. He gave Himself to all of mankind...  

Reflecting on this moment wounds my heart.. grieves my soul and brings tears of pain.

And then my mind raced to God the Father...Do we ask ourselves, what did He feel?  His heart must have shattered, His soul must have grieved the deepest grief... Tears must have flowed. Many say He turn away? 

He had the power to stop this act of torture, against His beautiful Son. Why, did He allow this ?? How did He allow this ??? It truly boggles our minds.

I can only relate on a very very tiny scale... As a parent, we love our children and many would give their own life for their child... 

So, why did God let this happen? 

Jesus is God in the flesh... He did not turn away. He sees the big picture... He knows our future. He knows every hair on every head. He held us close to His heart even before we were born. 

He gave His own human life for His child “You and me".... He sacrificed His human body to give us “The Gift” the gift of life and love for eternity.  

The question becomes, Will we remember and honor this gift? Will we embrace it? Will we be grateful? Or will we squander the moments? 

Will we love Him with all of mind, body, and soul for even making this gift a possible option!  

It truly is a choice to accept this gift. 

I can only share with you that I have felt this gift stirring deep within my soul... And without any doubt, it is The greatest Gift” we can ever be blessed to know... 

It’s Him, It’s always Him

He is the "Gift of a lifetime" Don't squander even one moment.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Matthew 6:1-4

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music:

First time ever I saw your face- George Michael (lyrics)