“Every good and perfect gift is from above…” James 1:17
The first winter I was living in my own home, we had a very heavy snowfall one evening. I looked outside and as cars were struggling to get down the road through the thick snowy streets, one got stuck. Pretty soon, a couple popped out of their house to help. See, I didn’t think I had much to offer getting a car unstuck so I watched for a while until I decided maybe I could do something too, so I put on my winter gear and headed out. I don’t know if I really helped much that night, but the car did get free and I had a seed planted in me…
It may have been that same snowfall or a different one, but this time, a mountain of snow filled our driveway. At least 5-7 feet tall and as wide as the driveway! Wind had whipped around both sides of our detached garage and created a winter volcano of ice and flurries. We didn’t have a snow blower, maybe one snow shovel, I can’t fully recall. As we peered out we weren’t quite sure when or how to tackle it…..until that special couple popped out of their home and headed to our place to start shoveling and they had a snow blower in tow. Again, I wasn’t sure how much I could contribute but I put on my winter gear, headed out, and in no time, we had that driveway cleared out. The seed had been watered. (Andrew and Laura, if you read this, thank you sincerely)
Fast forward to spring time and a lovely woman found her way to my home to tape a baby shower invitation on my door to make sure I knew I was welcome to the young woman’s shower at the local church. That same woman several years later would be the one that brought me and my husband a warm meal while we walked through a difficult time in our life, while she navigated her own cancer journey which ended in her death not long after that evening. As I sat in the church pew learning the news of her death, I excused myself to weep in the bathroom.
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12: 24
That day, the seed that had been planted years before (really decades before but I may not have been as aware) was watered. As my tears overflowed, that seed began to sprout and grow and grow and grow. I began to realize my sadness was the realization of the significance of the loss of an amazing human being. One who truly behaved as the hands and feet of Jesus. Who loved with such sincerity until the end. When I got home that day, I rushed to the place I kept cards searching for one in particular. One she had unexpectedly sent that she filled with confetti so when I opened it I would be encouraged and I couldn’t find it. I wept again. I hadn’t realized until this moment how fortunate I was to have received so much love from someone who owed me nothing. I hadn’t yet had time to realize all the missed opportunities I had for loving her back. No, those came later.
But God….
He turned my sadness into hope. He began to shine a light through her life and began to instill in me a vision to honor the love I had been given. That vision was to start stepping up, stepping out, and sharing more of my gifts and myself with others. To stop going to work and pouring everything I had into my job (where I got paid) and my home (my safe place) and give more freely my time, my energy, and my gifts to others in need, just as I had been. I stopped just sitting in a pew on Sunday to being a part of groups, committees, meal making, you name it. My eyes were opening to new opportunities and new people and I felt Rose with me every step of the way. Yes, Rose was her name and it matched every ounce of her beauty.
Years later, our family walked through a divorce and I felt on the receiving end of love again without much to give while I survived through that transition. Not long after, God led us away from that town, I grieved leaving it for the place, the people, the circumstances there were the tipping point to my surrender; however, God now reminded me it was my turn to be the neighbor that each of these special people had been to me. As I gained more support in my new living arrangement, God began to fill me back up. Our first winter in town, while I waited to sell my home, those special neighbors I met on a snowy night again returned to bless us by shoveling the drive in case people came to view the house. I was so humbled as that love came in, and it allowed my boys and I to get out and help several on our new street navigate snowy driveways and sidewalks. (And in a winter miracle, that house did sell!)
Often, we peer from our window wondering if we matter that much and I have learned over and over, if you put those shoes on, step out that door, the greatest gift we have to offer is ourselves. Even just the smile on our face or the willingness to give of our time, ability or no ability, may make the difference in someone’s day or life for that matter.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
Don’t minimize what you have to offer. You matter. You are enough.
Father, as we start our day, fill us with the truth that you value us and you believe in us. Remind us that we truly can help your creation. Help us to spill your love out on others the way you have done for us to make things better here on earth. Remind us not to minimize our abilities, gifts and talents, but to use them for the better of those around us. Let us not be selfish with the gifts within ourselves but to share them freely to improve our homes, towns, workplaces, and organizations. Thank you for blessing us with gifts that can provide us purpose and something to offer the world in gratitude for all you have given us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Love, Julie
Today’s image is of my boys and me on a nature hike. As the guide shared her gift, a knowledge and love of nature, we were able to learn and appreciate the forest around us in a way we would not have had we just walked through on our own. She also gave me the gift of being in charge for a little bit so I could be a learner and enjoy the hike with my kids a little more than if I was leading. Today I share a little of my story which may not feel like a gift, but my boys, my life, and what God has done in it is all I have to give at times so I hope it helps you in some way.
Father, Today I Surrender:
My Gifts
Show me the next step I should take.