Each Day is a Gift is a straightforward reminder of how each new day brings us some new thing, new experience, or new challenge. We can’t choose what gifts to receive, but we can choose how we use them. While Lisl Detlefsen’s words are exhortative and encouraging, I can’t help but think that they aren’t always true. Each Day is a Gift is a platitude. And a lot hangs on our definition of gift. Is a gift simply something that is given to us? A surprise that is thrust upon us and we must react with appreciation even we are not appreciative at all? Or is a gift something we actually want, something that was selected with us in mind, something that benefits us and brings us joy and flourishing? 

 

For Detlefsen, the definition is definitely the former. In the book, she explains that some days are like birthday-bike level gifts—a big new thing that we love. Other days are like socks-and-clothes-gifts. Not as fun, but very useful. Still other days are gifts we don’t want, which is illustrated through the death of a pet. Yet, even those gifts are opportunities to learn and grow. 

 

And, yes, I suppose if the first two types of gifts heavily outweigh the latter, then maybe the concept of the book works as something more than a platitude. But the more of the latter a life has, the more like gaslighting the book seems. What good are gifts if they are always bad? I don’t know that we need to frame the difficulties of life as gifts—especially in a book to children. The nuance and context of that framing can be difficult for adults to grasp. I think it is altogether fair to look at the difficulties of life and say “this is not a gift.” Rather, the gift is what comes out of those difficulties. God brings beauty from ashes, but does not create the ashes. That’s what I think this book misses. 

 

So while Each Day is a Gift is sincere and well-intentioned, for me personally it misses the mark in this one rather important area.