The Giver

Imagine someone is strolling by your house and they stop in awe: "Wow, your _____ is amazing!" Fill in the blank—your house, your car, your garden, whatever catches their eye.

Your response, in "modesty" (note the quotation marks), is probably something like: "Oh, it's nothing."

Seems reasonable enough, right? Now let's add one piece of context.

Imagine that the thing in question—your house, your car, that beautiful garden—was actually gifted to you. And the person who gave it to you is standing right there, listening to this conversation.

Now would you say "Oh, it's nothing"?

That gift is nothing? That's what you're telling the giver?

Obviously—and I hope it is obvious—you would never say that! You wouldn't dismiss a gift that way even if it was just a new sweater from your grandmother. The giver's presence completely shifts our perspective. In that scenario, a more appropriate response would be: "It really is amazing. We're so blessed to have received this."

Here's the thing we miss: every good gift in our life, and life itself, comes freely from God. He's not just nearby—He's right there, listening to how we respond when someone notices His generosity to us.

We shouldn't downplay the gifts. We shouldn't deflect with false modesty. We should acknowledge them for what they are: wonderful, and evidence that we are deeply blessed.