Under the paper

     My friends know I love gift giving and that I give special attention to the wrapping.  I'm not partial to any one type of wrapping. I love bags, paper, ribbon, tags, charms, flowers. Once the present is wrapped I will look for something that puts what I call a "Pam stamp" on it.  A book or article on gift wrapping always calls out to me.  Sometimes I have to wonder if the presentation speaks more to me than the gift. . . which led me to do a little soul searching. Do I want others to see the value of the gift more than the presentation?
      Our lives should be a gift to others. Do I allow myself to be unwrapped? Do I unwrap the gift within others? I read a wonderful book by Florence Littauer titled, "Silver Boxes."  The book is based on the scripture verse Ephesians 4:29 which says, "Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth,except that which is edifying so that it might minister grace to hearer." Mrs. Littauer asked a group of elementary children if they understood what the verse meant. One little boy said that our words should be like building blocks; another said that we shouldn't go around knocking other people's blocks down. Knowing how much children like presents, Mrs. Littauer explained that when words come out of our mouth they should be like presents we give away. Finally one little girl simply wrapped it up by saying, "What she means is that our words should be like little silver boxes with bows on top." She ends the book with a very personal story of her own mother and how dreams can die with us.
     It's no wonder I love this book because I love words and I love wrapped presents. I don't want to waste my time evaluating or envying someone's wrapping.  I want to spend my energy finding the valuable gift inside of them and encouraging them to let it be unwrapped.

Living with Lagniappe

     Having been born and raised in New Orleans, this southern girl knows about lagniappe. For those of you who haven't a clue, in New Orleans, the term is used to describe "a little something extra," and it is pronounced "LAN-yap." It's a Louisiana-French word derived from the American-Spanish word "la napa" which originally meant a gift. Mark Twain described lagniappe as "a word worth travelling to New Orleans to get." You can find the principle of  lagniappe in many cultures including the once norm "baker's dozen" in North America. Lagniappe in the true sense is unexpected.
     There is so much lagniappe in our lives that goes unnoticed and unappreciated.  You can't earn lagniappe. You can't buy lagniappe. You don't deserve lagniappe.  It's a gift and you can't receive a gift if you think you deserve it. I'm convinced God smiles about lagniappe because it's all about Grace.  We don't deserve his love and his salvation.  We can't earn it or buy it.  We can only receive His love and then turn around and give it to others.  Lagniappe living is delightful. It's fun and it's rewarding.
    I'll tell you about a recent lagniappe I received.  His name is Will.  He is the most wonderful gift God sent his Mom and Dad on April 18, 2010 and there isn't a day that goes by that his Mimi (that would be ME) doesn't fall head over heals in love with him again and again. Will doesn't know it yet, but he is in store for a lot of lagniappe from his Mimi, and I'm sure from many others as well. I've just begun this new journey of being a grandmother and in case you can't tell, I'm excited about it.

    I hope you discover lagniappe on your journey today and then turn around and give lagniappe to someone on their journey.