What Gifts Will You Give?

Emerson said, "the only gift is a portion of thyself." 

The gift that recognizes and honors our passions and our interests is a gift that comes from our heart. The gift of self is a most precious gift, indeed, because it is not a gift that can be purchased easily with money, but requires the time, energy, and heartfelt sentiments of the giver.  

For example, every mother knows how her heart leaps when her child presents her with a hand-drawn card, offers her a hand-picked flower, or gives her that old kindergarten standby, the noodle necklace!

Do you recall a children's film titled, "The Little Drummer Boy."  It is an animated fictional story about a poor shepherd boy who went to visit the Christ child on the day of his birth. When he arrived, the boy realized that other visitors presented the baby Jesus and his parents with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but the shepherd boy had no gift due to his impoverished state.  

The only possession in the world the child had was a small handmade drum, and so, the little drummer boy gave the only gift he could give out of the pureness of his heart. The young shepherd picked up his drum, and as he looked in wonder at the Christ child, he played the best song ever; a drum solo inspired by the opening of his own heart.

This Sunday I will be talking about Gifts of the Heart at the10AM Celebration Service and Children's Program at the Center for Spiritual Evolution (Church of Religious Science).  You are welcome to join us this on this or any Sunday.  Arrive early for the Meditation Service at 9:30AM.  We offer a Children's Program on the second & fourth Sundays at 10AM.