Article February 26, 1921 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Sims, James L. Gordon, Alexander C. Humphreys, Tyler Dennett, Robert Andrews Millikan, George A. Gordon

["The Gift of God"—The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, U.S.A., January 3, 1921]

At a time when so many people have been giving and receiving gifts, it is well to consider seriously the source of all giving, and to ponder its nature. Though so many so-called Christmas gifts are purchased with money, real gifts are "without money and without price." Honor, glory, peace, joy, "the lofty rime," cannot be bought, nor in any real sense can they be given, any more than two times two are four can be given away. The giver must himself have gained that which he gives by demonstrated understanding, and he who receives must prove that he has received by his works. Giving exhausts not, nor is there less because of that which has been given. So the oil in the cruse failed not.

Unless the thought of gratitude and unselfed affection accompany the gift, the gift is bare, as Lowell so well said when he made it clear that a gift is just the inevitable sharing with another of the truth that one has perceived. So he says:—

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Signs of the Times

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access