Gifts are precious. Gifts come in many forms.  Gifts arrive many ways. But it is not a gift if it is not received.  And we cannot receive gifts that we don’t know are gifts. Gifts are precious.

It was four days before Christmas. I was in a Christmas spirit. I felt under the gun with various issues including death related. However, a series of gifts changed everything. It started with two women driving from Montgomery to bring a Senate Resolution and a Governor’s Proclamation for the funeral of our friend, Barbara Brown. I recognized their bringing these items was a gift to me. But they were so joyful. And their joy was a great gift to me. Gifts are precious.

I also recognized that this was also a gift to the family of the deceased. They really wanted the Governor’s Proclamation and the Senate Resolution to be placed in the funeral program.  Even though they knew it was part of my Senate responsibility, they treated it as a gift in light of the short time frame. But they did not know about two women changing their schedules to transport the resolution and proclamation from Montgomery to Selma. Nor did the family know that my assistant came in on her day off to facilitate the resolution and proclamation. These gifts were not recognized or received. Gifts are precious.

The two women treated the one hundred mile round trip from Montgomery to Selma as a gift to them. I did not understand that this trip to help me could be a gift to them. I could only see that it was a gift to me. Sometimes we don’t recognize the gifts we give. Gifts are precious.

The two women had heard that Selma has some of the best barbecue in the land. They just wanted me to tell them how to get to the barbecue place. I said that I would take them.

They said I was way too busy and they could find the place. They recognized it as a gift but they rejected the gift because it appeared to be a burden on me. Their thinking my gift was too much was a gift to me. Sometimes we do not allow others to give. Gifts are precious.

We traveled to Lannie’s Barbecue on Minter Street. They followed me in their car. I could take them to the barbecue place but I could not stay to eat. I was in a hurry but I tried to slow down.  To drive slow so others can follow is a gift. Gifts are precious.

On the way to Lannie’s, I called ahead. They had a large whiting sandwich waiting for me. I asked the women to order so I could pay for their barbecue with my sandwich.  They refused, saying that I had already done too much for them. One of them sat down and refused to order so I could not pay. The other woman helped me to persuade her. Sometimes those who give so willingly cannot receive willingly.  Gifts are precious.

One of the women ordered a barbecue rib plate with potato salad and baked beans. The other woman ordered a pulled pork dinner with the same sides. Neither ordered a drink. After I paid for their dinners, I realized that they did not have drinks.  They absolutely refused to allow me to pay for their drinks. It would have only been a couple more dollars. I could not persuade them. We were rejecting each other’s gifts.  Gifts are precious.

When the two women arrived back in Montgomery, I spoke to each. They said they had eaten too much and the food was so good.  They thanked me profusely for giving them the opportunity to come to Selma. I had already thanked them for bringing the documents for Barbara Brown’s funeral program.

But I thanked them again. But I did not thank them for the best gift; the joy they shared. Gifts are precious.

I asked the women why they received so much joy in traveling100 miles round trip to Selma. In so many words, each said, “You do so much for us.  You are always helping us. It gives us great joy to do something for you.” I didn’t realize I had given to them. I could only remember their giving to me.  Sometimes we don’t know when we give gifts.  Gifts are precious.

The joy I felt when I saw these women was a gift. The joy they felt was a gift. The joy we shared through simple hugs and robust laughter was a gift.  The joy was just so abundant, running from heart to heart and breast to breast. There was so much joy.  Joy is the best gift of all.

Too often we see gifts as material things. If it is not a material gift, it is not received as a gift. It is just life.

The greatest gifts cost nothing except a little time, a little effort, a little love. When anything brings us joy, it is a gift. We have so many gifts that we don’t even recognize.