Gifts come to us in different ways and times. Many only think of receiving gifts on their birthday, Christmas, Easter, and perhaps Valentine’s Day. But have you ever received a gift that surprised you? A unexpectant gift that you had no idea was coming, or that you were doing something, or had done something that would earn you a gift? This happened to me when I was about 20 years old. The lesson I learned was that we should not always expect a reward for doing something good for others, but, that what we do always brings a reward of some kind. So here is the story behind receiving “the Chocolate Pot” (pictured) from my mother for doing something she asked me to do.

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, a chocolate pot is a vessel which hot chocolate is served. Now some of you might be thinking of it more like a tea pot or coffee pot, but the styles are different. A tea pot is short and stout. A coffee is usually tall and stout. The chocolate pot is tall and slim. Just a bit of trivial information for you, hah!  Okay, let’s continue.

My parents were friends with older couple when they moved into the same town. We always called the lady Missy Briggs; I forget her husband’s name. I do remember that he was in a wheel chair and not in good health. This couple never had children and were several years older than my parents, but from what I remember, they became good friends. Years later when Missy Briggs was widowed and needed help, my mother began doing her grocery shopping and then spend the afternoon visiting with her. Mom shopped for Missy Briggs at least once a week, sometimes twice, and dropped by to visit probably third time each week for several years.

Then my mom got sick and was mostly bedfast for several months and couldn’t do the shopping any more. That’s when Mom asked me if I would do the shopping, drop off the groceries, and visit with Missy Briggs.  To be quite honest with you, at first, I really didn’t want to, but since Mom wasn’t able, I said “sure”.  So each week I did this shopping and visited with this “old” lady who repeated her life’s stories several times at each visit. She was always very nice and cheerful and always insisted on fixing me lunch; probably because that meant I’d be there longer to visit.  Looking back at this weekly event in a young girl’s life, I remember thinking, even then, of how sad it was that she was so alone. Maybe that’s why these visits made such an impact on me about how important it is to visit with family and friends.

When my mom was well enough again, she took back the shopping and visiting routine. A year or two later Missy Briggs died. Mom worked with the lawyer and funeral home to take care of all the details. Mom never told me the details of the will; only that Missy Briggs had just said mom was in the will. Mom never did the shopping and visiting to receive any reward; she did it because they were long-time friends.

When the estate was being settled, and her will read, mom was “given first choice to purchase” whatever she wanted from items in the home, before the Estate sale. (This is not what Missy Briggs had told Mom, and we always believed that her will was not worded exactly as she thought). As it happened, the only thing mom could afford to purchase among all the antiques was this “Chocolate Pot” pictured above. (Somewhere in all our moving, the lid got broken). Mom never was bitter about “not” receiving anything more because, as I said, she did this out of love for her long-time friend. I think she was upset, however, over the fact that someone had taken advantage of (the elderly) Missy Briggs.

Well, one day I came home from work and mom gave me that chocolate pot. I was surprised! She told me she bought it for me because I did what I was asked to do and never complained about it! Wow! I didn’t know at the time that one could be blessed for “not” complaining! Actually, looking back at the whole situation, I think I took some pride in the fact that my mother was trusting me with this responsibility!  Funny how the same event can have different viewpoints. Mom viewed it as me not complaining; I view it as gaining trust for responsibility.

Anyway, I learned several lessons from this experience that I’ve applied in my life over the years. One, we should never complain when asked to do some, nor complain while we are doing it. Two, being held accountable for the money and purchasing groceries, taught me how to be openly accountable that helped me later in my career jobs. Three, the joy of just doing something for another because they can’t themselves is priceless. Four, being faithful in this small responsibility, quietly doing what I was asked and not complaining, or bragging about it to anyone, opened the door to receive a reward that I had no idea was going to be mine.

This all reminds me of what Matthew chapter six teaches on how God rewards openly what we’ve done in secret. That chapter speaks of three areas of doing something in secret: giving, praying, and fasting; and how then God rewards openly. (Matthew 6:1-18) Granted the giving in these scriptures has to do with money but the principle truth can be applied also to other areas of our lives – like our time and friendship etc. Seems to me that God takes notice of whether we do things to be noticed by others or things done to honor Him. I believe this is what First Corinthians 10:31 means when it tells us to “do all to the glory of God.”  It’s been my experience that the rewards God gives me are far better than what anyone else can give me.

I challenge you this week to re-evaluate your motives for doing what you are doing; making sure it’s for bringing glory to God and not for seeking glory from mankind.

Have a very wonderfully rewarding week.