I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Give.” Write for five minutes; unedited.

I am one of those people who loves giving gifts. There is something so joyful about finding that perfect gift for a family member or friend. This past year I have been blessed by amazing friends that have been brought into my life. My friend CT and I both have birthdays in September. After our birthdays, we were going to a meeting of youthworkers and got their early. CT, myself, and another friend were looking in one of our fave little stores. I thought to myself I need to find CT’s birthday gift. I sneakily looked around the store and found a gift for her. I snuck up to the counter and paid for her gift. I then stuck it in my purse. When we got to the restaurant, I pulled out the gift and gave it to her. She was like, “You little stinker. I was going to buy your birthday gift too. But I couldnt figure out how I was going to do it with you in the store.”

After we finished eating, CT told me that I had to stay in the car while CT and our other friend went back to the store to pick up my gift. I patiently waited for them. CT picked out my gift and gave it to me when they got back to the car. It was an insulated drinking glass and straw with the words “Life’s too short to be anything but happy.” CT told me that it was indeed the gift she had spotted early and that it reminded her of me. It was so fun to give each other our gifts and every time I drink out of that glass I think of my friend and the gift she is in my life.

Gift giving is such a blessing, yet as I look at the world around me, there is so much more I wish to give the world and my “hopefully someday children.” I want to give them safety. I want them to feel safe at their schools and not fear that a gunman is going to come into their classroom. I want to give them a world that is full of God’s justice and God’s peace; a world where there is not violence, racism, etc. I want to give the world peace, love, and hope. And as I wish for a world filled with these things, I know these are things that only God can give us. God gives us love, hope, forgiveness and is the one who can ultimately grant and give peace.