One of my top love languages is gift-giving. I love to put a lot of thought into what I give someone I care about. I want them to feel—to know—it was something I had picked out just for them.

I think our Father in Heaven is similar.

I've seen Bishop Robert Barron say before that God exists in gift form and, "if you want His life in you, you have to learn to give it away."

"It" being just about everything that we can give away: our energy, our time, the blessings we've been given, even our lives.

Our life with Christ is hindered in moving forward—and His life within us is limited—when we cling to these gifts, holding onto them for ourselves, in fear. We become like the rich man in today’s parable held onto his possessions and lost them anyway. (See Luke 12:20-21.)

It seems then that to be rich in what matters to God is to be generous with what we've been given, to recognize Who it all comes from—and what we might be called to do with it. He gives us what He gives us because He thought of us—He thought of you.

And maybe He has a thought for His gift that extends beyond you too, of someone in particular, of someone by name: who could it be that He's thinking of—who could it be that would be blessed if you gave away your treasures and gifts this week?

[bctt tweet="He gives us what He gives us because He thought of us—He thought of you. // @praymorenovenas" username="blessedisshe__"]

This article by a critically acclaimed Catholic writer and speaker shares what Pope Saint John Paul II meant in giving the gift of self in relationship.

Annie Deddens is a writer and producer. She runs a prayer ministry with her husband, called Pray More Novenas. She has a heart for the sick & suffering, and she writes about living with greater faith (hope & love, too) in this imperfect world as a Catholic wife. She is a contributing author to our Advent devotional book, All the Generations. You can find out more about her here.