Just to add to the "Eru's Gift" concept (I know, I couldn't resist), Iluvatar's gift to men was that they would not be tied to the earth as were the spirits of the Elves. Eru considered this to be a gift, not having to witness the terrible atrocities that would be committed to the planet in ages to come, as would the Elves and the Valar--who would remain until the themes of Arda had played out fully.
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