A Living Investment

I was watching the news a few nights ago, and they were talking about Christmas gift ideas that last.  One of the guests on the show was an investment representative for a local brokerage firm.  He was talking about why giving the gift of investment was something that could last a lifetime.  That's pretty good.  I mean, how many gifts have you given or received that could last a lifetime?  Are you drawing a blank too?  I've gotten some pretty amazing gifts over the years, and I like to think I've given some cool stuff too.  But, have the gifts I've given really been beneficial to the recipient?  Did it give them more than a smile or nice thought? 

So, I got to thinking.  Are there really any gifts that we can give that will stay with the beneficiary forever?  Then, it hit me...the gift of investment.  Not simply in the monetary sense, but a more personal gift of yourself.  Think about the people in your life who have left their mark.  You may have learned from them, laughed with them, loved them, but whatever the action, the unifying factor was their investment in you.  Maybe a teacher invested their time.  Maybe a friend invested their compassion.  Perhaps a parent invested their knowledge and love.  A neighbor invested an ear.  These are the gifts that last. 

Now the hard part.  Are you an investor?  At work, do you give yourself to co-workers, bosses, students (in my case)?  At home, do you take time to play with your kids, listen to your 4 year old's Hannah Montana concert, share the joys and burdens of parenthood with your partner?  I'm sure we would all like to say yes to these things.  But how do we know if we're truly invested?  Here are a few questions for you.  Could you just walk away from the person or situation you're trying to invest in?  If no, why not?  Is it because it would hurt you?  Or, do you say no because you worry about how your absence would impact the ones you leave behind?  These aren't easy questions.  Even harder at times is the answer I think we should try and live up to.

 You see, it's a little of both.  Our focus on life has got to move away from our own needs/desires and onto others.  When we do that, we invest.  We have to worry less about how things make us feel, but rather how our actions and love can impact the feelings of others.  But, just as there is risk involved with monetary investing, there is a far greater risk when we invest with ourselves.  Not every investment turns into a gold mine.  Someitmes, the people we invest in reject our investment.  Our value plummits.  We hurt.  So then, do we stop investing just to avoid the risk?  NO!!!!  Keep investing.  No risk equals no reward.  We don't have to change what we invest, but just what we invest it on.  Invest your time.  Invest your heart.  Invest your money, laughter, and tears.  Just invest them on people instead of "stuff".  Even when our investments seem to be failures, God is working.  Even when we don't see it, He is turning our wee efforts into greatness for His Kingdom.  See it or not, your investments will eventually pay off. 

As you go about the Holiday hustle and bustle, keep your investments in mind.  Before you run out and buy the newest piece of technology for your loved one, make sure you give them yourself first.  Sometimes it's work.  Sometimes it seems like more than we're capable of.  But, in the end, the reward of the investor is far greater than the payee.  Jump in, as unstable as the market may be, there's never better time to invest.