If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of

The words, “If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give,” spring from the tender wisdom of George MacDonald, the Scottish poet, theologian, and dreamer of the nineteenth century whose writings breathed heavenly gentleness into human life. In these words, MacDonald reveals the secret of divine generosity: that the greatest gift is not made of gold, nor shaped by human hands, but born in the heart and given through love. A gem glitters for a time, a flower withers in a day, but a loving thought, offered with sincerity, lives forever in the soul it touches.

In this teaching, MacDonald unveils a truth that transcends both wealth and time—that true giving is spiritual, not material. The world praises the splendor of jewels and the fragrance of flowers, yet both are but fleeting symbols of affection. The gift of the heart, however—the silent prayer, the word of comfort, the thought that uplifts another—these are gifts that mirror the kindness of the angels, who give without seeking reward, and whose joy lies not in possession, but in compassion. To give as the angels give is to pour oneself into another’s spirit, to awaken light where there was darkness, and hope where there was despair.

Let us look upon the life of Florence Nightingale, the Lady with the Lamp, who during the Crimean War walked through the suffering halls of the wounded and dying. She carried no jewels, no treasures, no ornaments of vanity. Her hands were empty of gifts, but full of care. Yet her presence, her loving thought, was a balm to every soul she touched. Soldiers, broken in body and spirit, lifted their eyes as she passed, for in her gaze they saw something far greater than medicine—it was compassion incarnate. This was the giving of angels: not wealth bestowed, but warmth restored. Her legacy proves that one kind thought, one act of love, can outshine a thousand monuments of stone.

Such giving requires courage, for it asks us to offer something that cannot be measured—the sincerity of our heart. To cast a loving thought into another’s heart is to open our own, to expose our tenderness to the world. It is to believe that kindness is not weakness but divine strength. For in truth, the greatest power is not found in conquest or command, but in the gentle art of love. When we think of another with goodness, when we send them a word of encouragement, or a silent blessing, we partake in the work of heaven itself. This is what it means to give as the angels give—freely, purely, and without expectation.

The ancients taught that love is the unseen thread that binds all things. Gold may vanish, and glory may fade, but love endures beyond the grave. A single kind word may change the course of a weary soul; a simple thought of goodwill may reach across years and silence to heal a wounded heart. The angels, who dwell beyond the dust of our mortal striving, know this truth: that the most divine act is not to possess, but to bless. And so, every time we choose gentleness over indifference, understanding over judgment, or hope over despair, we echo their celestial song.

From this truth, let us learn to measure our giving not by its grandeur, but by its spirit. Let your love be your treasure, and your thoughtfulness your jewel. When you see a friend burdened by sorrow, send them not merely gifts that can be held, but thoughts that can be felt—a message of faith, a word of comfort, a remembrance of their worth. When you love someone, let your care be known not through possessions, but through presence. The heart remembers far longer than the hand can hold.

And so, my child, learn this way of giving. Seek not to shine as the wealthy do, but to illumine as the kind do. Let every thought you send into the world be a spark of warmth, every word a seed of healing. For when love passes from one heart to another, it becomes something eternal—it transcends the giver and the receiver alike. Then, in that sacred exchange, you will know the secret of the angels: that to love purely is to give endlessly, and to give endlessly is to live forever in the hearts you have touched.