“As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.”
2 Corinthians 6:1
Little: “I didn’t get any milk today!”
*deep, heart-wrenching sobs*
Me: “Do you think all the milk has disappeared from the school?”
Little (startled): “No.”
*sniff*
Me: “I wonder. If there is still milk in the school, do you think we could find a carton somewhere for you?”
Little (fresh sobs) : “I don’t know-ow-ow!”
Me: “I bet we could solve this problem. Let’s think about what we could do to get milk for you.”
*sobs, drama, heartache*
Me: Wait for it.
*more sobs*
Little: “Maybe we could go find the milk guy and get some for me!”
Me: “Good thinking! Who do you choose to go with you to solve this problem?”
Little chooses a helper.
Little tracks down the milk.
Little returns triumphant, tears dry, all is well with the world.
Nice.
Which is why when I returned to my classroom after lunch and found the afore-mentioned milk carton untouched on a certain desk, I nearly lost it.
Seriously.
All that trouble to get the dang milk in the first place, all to not drink it.
But – am I not the same, in a spiritual sense?
Do I not whine and wail and beg for mercy, and then forget to make use of it?
Do I not complain that I am getting the short end of the stick, when I am richly blessed in every way?
Ouch.
God is kind.
He hasn’t once struck me with lightning – even though I’m sure I’ve deserved it. He continues to send rain and sunshine and friends and blessings, as I cry and carry on that what I want is unavailable, or hard to get.
And what I need is sitting unopened on a desk while I do my best ‘woe is me’ routine.
Sigh.
Perhaps I need to cry less and open the carton more.
So to speak.
Reach out and use the good things God gives us with me?
Father, thank You for the wonderful gifts You place before us. Help us to appreciate and make use of them. Help us to enjoy every blessing, and not waste Your generosity. Amen.
Growing in Grace 