I bet you have done it.
I have.

Think back on your life and consider how many times you have cheated the gifts you have.

Could you have had more success had you worked harder…
smarter?

Could you have developed a relationship
to a greater level had you not been distracted by whatever seemed more important at the time?

If you are over 45 and been involved in athletics you have most likely heard of Steve Prefontaine.

One of the best distance runners ever, “Pre”, as he was called, set records in high school, at Oregon and was a favorite in the Olympics. He died at 24 in a car wreck.

In spite of living a short while…”Pre” affected and still affects many with some thoughtful quotes about running.

He said once…
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift”.

I also heard it as “cheating the Gift”.

Fairly good wisdom for a young guy.

How many times in my life have I “cheated the Gift”….of an ability or talent gifted to me?

How many times have I “cheated” the Gift given me by Christ?

How have you “sacrificed” or “cheated” the gift of relationship between you and a great and close friend?

Have you ” cheated” the gift of the love between you and your spouse?

Not immorality…
But giving less than all of yourself…
withholding affection or intimacy to get your way or to win an argument… or just manipulate the other???

If we have heard The Word or heard from the guidance of The Holy Spirit …
and then rationalize away what we KNOW to do….
we are sacrificing the gift of intimate communication between God and us, earned and achieved by Jesus on The Cross.

My encouragement would be to treasure each Gift and give it prominence in your life.

As Steve Prefontaine always worked beyond a good effort to never cheat his talent, his “gift” ….
may we hold the Gifts given to us…
those talents and abilities within us, as well as the Gifts we have in people and relationships….. in high esteem.

May we treasure them and sacrifice anything but them.

May we…
at a time of reflection
be able to look back
and say that we did not sacrifice or cheat the great Gifts we have.

Right now…
think of the two or three greatest Gifts you possess…
and purpose to never cheat them.

As our Great Example did…
may we give to the full extent,
may we do what we are lead and instructed to do…
in spite of what might lie in front of us
and allow The Gift to be
put to greatest use.

Terry
December, 2015