I have a friend I would describe as having a simple mind. Topics with any complexity don’t hold her attention very long, but she will hold your eyes, smile with a soul-examining look, and try her best to determine if what you are saying makes you happy or sad. Then she responds in a manner of celebration if you are up, or empathy and exhortation if you are down. She notices your good qualities and compliments you on them. Because she has inquired before, she is aware of your family members and circumstances and always remembers to ask about them. She is of a young grandmotherly age, however, has never had children of her own. She is married to a man who takes gentle care of her. She is one of the most kindhearted individuals I have ever met. Even as I type, I get choked up thinking of this pure soul that the Lord has allowed me to know.

I recently became a grandmother. I am happy to share pictures and my joy with you any time. My friend celebrated with me when she learned of my wonderful news. She patiently looked at pictures, and she looked just as much at my face.  Her smile reflected my insides. I hope you have a friend who elevates your exuberance by catching, multiplying and returning the feeling. I didn’t think my emotions could reach a higher point, but here they were, soaring on a new level.

My friend’s simplicity extends to her way of life. She doesn’t drive. She doesn’t have a paying job. She has her husband drive her 2 hours to volunteer every week. She doesn’t interact on any deep level with anyone because she might not do it quite right. She has rehearsed all of the appropriate inquiries and responses so she can be polite. However, she is happy to play a supporting role in anything she does. She is comfortable in the background. When someone does ask questions to get to know her better, you feel her discomfort and anxiety rise, so you settle back into a more superficial conversation…how are you? How are you feeling? How is your husband and his family?

Our volunteer duties were wrapping up for the summer. During the chaos of cleaning up the end-of-the-year banquet, we hugged and I told her the honest truth: I would REALLY miss seeing her. She nervously said that she had something for me as she carefully guarded her purse. From it, she produced two cards. The envelopes were so crisp that I truly think she ironed them. The lettering was immaculate. She had one card for me and one for my daughter. I could imagine what she went through to produce the cards: overcoming her angst at going to the store and getting a ride to do so. Because she is so intentional, she probably read every card looking for the right one. Then she carefully signed the cards and addressed the envelopes. I cherished it already. She looked like she wanted to protect the cards so I put them straight into my purse.

At home, in the flurry of unloading the car and putting things away, I was distracted and left my purse in the car. When I retrieved my purse, there the cards were. My breath caught as I saw the crisp pink envelope and the carefully written name. I opened the envelope trying to preserve its mint condition. She was celebrating me as a new grandmother. Then, as I opened the card, several crisp new 20 dollar bills fell to the floor. I was awestruck. And humbled. And overcome with the tidal wave of love I’m sure she meant for me to receive. I sat down and cried.

My mind jumped to the Bible story of the widow giving her last 2 pennies as an offering to God. (Luke 21:1-4, Mark 12:41-44) Jesus received it just as she intended. He commended her to His disciples for giving all that she had, from her heart. “This poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

I don’t know my friend’s financial situation, but she gave all the love that the Lord gave her to give away. I love giving (and receiving) gifts, especially if I think I am giving something someone will enjoy. But through her gift, the Lord gave me additional insight into the love He has lavished on us through the gift of His Son’s birth, death, and resurrection. God gave all He had to free me and you from the debt of our sin in order for us to receive the gift of eternal life with Him. He wanted us to feel all the incredible love that went into it. I got a tiny glimpse of how God’s heart must be blessed when we receive His gift with joy and appreciation because I saw my friend’s face when she gave me the cards.

If you have never received the gift that Jesus is offering to you, do it now. If you have, refresh in your mind the love with which it was given. It will bless your heart…and His.