He gave all - Charlie Barton

"I would give an arm and a leg..."  While not so extreme, several of my co-workers and I learned a little bit about giving something of ourselves a few years back.  Kim, a co-worker's wife, was diagnosed in 2003 with leukemia.  While lots of prayers and well wishes went her way, we also discovered there was something very tangible we could do and that was to donate platelets on her behalf.  This became a very personal gift from each of us to Kim as she fought to overcome leukemia and literally saved her life until she could ultimately have a bone marrow transplant and defeat leukemia once and for all.  

Since that time, the platelet donations have continued; in most cases it has been a gift for complete strangers, many of them children, but still the principle of physically giving a part of ourselves has continued to make this activity something extremely personal for each of us that continues to donate.  But however personal and well intended the gift is, we still are able to get up from the bed, go to the break room for a snack and head out to other activities. 

It struck me recently that this personal gift of one's self through platelet donation, however, pales in comparison to the most personal gift that Christ gave to us in the sacrifice of Himself.  He was beaten, broken, forsaken and ultimately killed on our behalf to save us from a death worse than leukemia with His gift in the end being eternal life.  No snacks in the break room, no getting on with day afterward.  Jesus offered all of Himself as the ultimate, personal gift to each of us.  "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."  He gave all.

As we continue through Lent towards Easter, let us not forget the ultimate gift of Christ's love for us - Himself.  As we sacrifice various things for Lent, as we celebrate communion and worship with our fellow believers, let's not forget that we celebrate this most wonderful and personal gift to each of us.  The gift of a "greater love" than we can imagine.    

Charlie Barton