I believe the answer is as follows. In each mitzvah that one performs, there are 2 parts of the person involved: the body and the heart. A mitzvah is made up of both a physical, concrete action and also an intangible, heart-based devotion. Throughout the ages, our leaders have taught that the physical aspect is primary. R’ Chaim Volozhiner famously stated “A Jew can eat his matzah with the greatest dveykus in the world, but it won’t make him the slightest bit more holy if it’s not Pesach.” We all know that the emphasis must be on the proper fulfillment of the action. However, be that as it may, an unfortunate side-effect of stressing one aspect is that we often come to neglect (or altogether forget) the other aspect. Rachmonoh liba ba’ee – Hashem wants our hearts. Hashem wants us to dedicate ourselves loyally to His Service. When a servant loves his master, he channels his love creatively to find ways to please his master. He would never leave the framework of what his master desires him to do, and he definitely would never go against his master’s wishes. However, a loyal servant would love to find a way to give something of his own to his master. But what can a servant give of his own? All his actions are scripted; his job is pre-delineated. The answer is that within the predetermined framework, one can find ways to leave his own personal mark. A lover can buy a factory-made knick-knack for his partner, but a personal hand-made gift is infinitely more precious.
I think now we can understand why Hashem lists every single one of the nisiim’s gifts. Each one was a specially-crafted present, made with a tremendous amount of forethought, devotion and most importantly – heart. Hashem didn’t look at the dedicatory offerings and see 12 identical gifts. Hashem saw 12 distinct individuals, each one looking for a way within the Torah framework to offer something of himself. Each prince set his heart to find the best way he could serve Hashem; each one connected in his own way. This is why the Torah lists each gift. Hashem is trying to convey that while the offerings may appear to be identical, each one is coming from a different, loyal heart and consequently is considered special, unique, and valuable.
I believe this lesson applies in our lives as well. Oftentimes we don’t attach enough significance to our avodas Hashem. A contributing factor, perhaps, is the erroneous belief that there is no singularity in our actions. The lofty soul of man desires to be creative and unique. Sometimes we convince ourselves that “I daven and my friend davens. We both said the exact same words.” Or perhaps, “We both gave the same dollar to tzeddakah. There is no difference between us.” Even if we don’t consciously think these thoughts, on some level we don’t recognize the uniqueness of our actions and we become disheartened. Hashem repeated the nissim offerings 12 times (!) to counteract this misconception. You are unique. There never was anybody like you, there is nobody like you, and there never will be somebody like you. The heart and intent you put into your service of Hashem is special. It is different than anything anyone else can offer. Again, Heaven forbid that we should ever step out of the concrete, physical framework provided by the Torah. But within that framework there is no limit to the singularity and uniqueness you can offer in your avodah. May we each merit serving Hashem in our own special way and thereby make Hashem proud of each and every one of us.