Got to thinking - was wrapping some gifts. Got to thinking how difficult it is to buy something for some people. They get what they want, how they want, when they want, and anything else is insignificant and unappreciated. This makes gift giving a challenge for the giver - a person who wants to show love and appreciation to them. Got to thinking....is this not true of all mankind...is this not how people think about the most wondrous gift God gave mankind? Does man not wish to determine the content of the gift given to them? and the stipulation that accompanies it? Got to thinking, again...this malady is common to all mankind - not just to the rich but the poor as well. We insist on on using it as we want without reading the instructions that accompany its use. Got to thinking - that this is a profound insight the LORD gave me.Sandra
_________________Sandra Miller
In Southern California where I live, there is a lot of traffic and a lot of waiting in a left turn lane. Taking advantage of this captive audience is an infinite number of homeless people who stand on the little island next to the lane with their magic-markered cardboard box lid.Some interesting variety in their messages, but always a request for handouts and usually a "God bless" at the bottom. What to do...?I went to Costco and bought a box of granola bars, and have been keeping them handy on the seat beside me. Some thing to do, as I am loathe to just stare ahead as if they are not there. I would rather engage.But the reactions are interesting. Some receive the bars with gratitude, but it is amazing the way some of them look at me with disgust and wave me off. They really only want money. One guy said he had lots of those, he feeds them to the dog. But when I apologized for bothering him he caught himself and said he was sorry. We had a short but poignant conversation, without as much gospel as I would have liked to share. Not much time- which is OK. Sandra, you are so right. How much the Father must long to see humility and gratitude, how painfully little of it there is!But by the Holy Spirit that gratitude bubbles inside me, and I will continue to hand out the bars whenever I can. Some will take them, be grateful, and that's enough for me!
_________________Tom Cameron
Hey, Sidewalk,Your post is so true. I felt a little too much of myself as the homeless guy who is too good for granola. We are, with our Lord, destitute and too filled with our own visions of what we want to be "in Christ" that we wave off and ridicule what He offers us for our own good and in His love.That is an image I think will stay with me. Thank you for telling that story.
_________________Tim
QUOTE:______________________________________________________________That is an image I think will stay with me. Thank you for telling that story.______________________________________________________________Agreed. So true.
