Love Is the Greatest Gift 

   “Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God.  Do all that you do with love.”  (St. Therese of Lisieux) 

   St. Therese referred to herself as the “little flower”.  She considered herself to be too small to do great things for God but determined to do all things with love.  She knew that love makes even the smallest gift great in the eyes of God.

   Especially with Christmas coming soon many are occupied with finding just the right gift for that special person.  Many take great pride in giving costly gifts to family and friends.  There is nothing wrong with that, but I think it’s important to remember what really matters.  The size and the cost are not nearly as important as the love with which they are offered.

   Many make big donations to charities and churches at this time of year.  That is a wonderful thing and many benefit from their generosity.  However, it is the love with which they are given that pleases God.

   Newlyweds are many times on a tight budget and can’t afford the gifts they would like to give to each other, so they give what they can.  Those simple and often quite inexpensive gifts are some of the most treasured.  Not because of their worldly value but because they were given with great love.

   “It’s not the gift, but the thought that counts.”  There is great truth in that statement.  Even the smallest gift, when given with love becomes great.  It is not the size or cost of the gift that matters, but the love with which it is given.