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2 Corinthians 9:15 - Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (NIV)

Not only do we all love to get gifts, but we also want to be givers of gifts. Gifts come in many forms: cards, flowers, and packages wrapped and unwrapped. Random acts of kindness are also forms of gifts. When a gift is given, the giver is blessed, as is the receiver of the gift. Sometimes, it takes time for the giver of the gift to see the blessing.

Such is the case in the event of my fiftieth birthday in January, 2011. My husband asked my aunt from California to come for this event, which she did, and she spent a week with me. Coming from California to Canada in the winter is a challenge for someone not used to our cold and snow. My aunt shared with me that she had to think about this decision, and she looked upon this as an adventure which she embraced. Neither of us knew at the time what impact that this visit would have.

In the weeks following her visit, the real gift was revealed and continues to be a blessing to this day. After she had gone back to California that January, I could not wrap my head around the fact that she had come to spend time with me and to do it in the winter. For many weeks, I pondered this and was drawn to the Scriptures numerous times.

The result of this visit is that I have been forever changed. If she could come and spend a week here for me, then I owed it to myself and my family to get healthy. The direct result of her coming and giving is that I have embraced a healthy lifestyle and have lost ninety pounds. She visited me again recently, and I told her this during one of our walks. She had no idea about the gift that she had given me in that week, until we talked. Yes, she knew that I had lost weight, but she had no idea how it had started.

God took a situation in my life that I thought was beyond help and used my aunt to speak life into me. This event has truly shown me to continue to trust in Him.

Though we may never know the direct results of our acts of kindness and compassion to others, let us never fall into thinking that we aren't sowing seeds of making a difference in others' lives.

James 1:3 - For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (NLT)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the people that You put into our lives who speak life into us. Help us to do the same to others. Words cannot express our gratitude for the gift of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Julie Bowles