Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
I look back at my life, I realized that many of the gifts I received from God came in packages that were anything but pretty. I count my children as one of my best gifts from God. I was a teen parent though and it wasn't always easy being a parent, and it often wasn't pretty. I count my spouse and marriage as a gift from God and yet we've walked through much muck and mire to make it where we are. Our relationship has not always been good or pretty, but it was worth it.
I think so often we expect the gifts of God to come like Christmas or birthday gifts, neatly packaged and pretty paper with a big bow on top. Often though God's gifts are a messy process. I think about the cross as a perfect example.
As a girl who collects crosses, as a reminder of what was done for me by Jesus, I scarcely believe I would hang any cross on my wall that remotely resembled the picture of what that gift truly was. Jesus was beat, bloody, unrecognizable as a human. His gift didn't look like the beautiful man hanging on the cross with three nails, a crown and some gentle drops of blood on His brow. I praise God my Savior came off that cross and is seated on the throne, but the perfect gift was anything but pretty. The process Jesus went through was messy. Just like my life. It is in the process the perfect gift was formed. If the most perfect gift we can receive didn't come in a pretty package, maybe I need to consider the gifts I receive that come through packages that I would prefer to reject.
An online friend commented being homeless with two kids must have been challenging. When I look back it's not the challenges I remember; it is a beautiful gifts that came out of that time. I remember the friendships, learning of resources, the resilience, the strength and the problem-solving. I remember the experiences that let me help others from the heart, the hope God gave me, and the dependency on Him that I learned. Those are the perfect gifts that came wrapped in a difficult time in my life. He was there all along, leading me on and I am grateful I was able to receive His perfect gift even if it wasn't pretty.
Lord, I praise You for the perfect gift of Jesus that You gave me. I thank You for the gifts that come easy and pretty but I'm also grateful for being able to receive Your gifts in the hardships. Thank You for the lessons, for opening my eyes to see Your gift in those difficult times too.
No comments:
Post a Comment