Seeing Past the Gift to the Gift-Giver

Overlooking a Tasty Ice Cream Cone

A young mother and her toddler daughter look right past an Ice cream cone, into the eyes of the guy offering it.

Here’s what I love about this image. Both the young mom and her baby girl are looking right past the ice cream cone, to the guy offering it. Both pairs of eyes are on him, especially the little one’s. I’m pretty sure the photographer is her daddy, aren’t you?

For this wonderful, captured instant of time, he has his little girl’s full attention.

Even when he’s offering a delicious frozen treat.

It’s always a good idea to appreciate the gift giver.

Growing in Gratitude

American Christians need to become a more thankful people. Because thankfulness opens our eyes to God’s goodness and mercy. Secondly, being aggressively thankful produces an interesting side-effect because our faith becomes stronger. We start to trust God in a deeper way.

Unfortunately, we often ignore the blessings the Lord gives us.

Like an under-appreciated mother who works so hard “behind the scenes” to make her family’s life better, only to have them remain unaware of her efforts.

The trick is for each of us to start to see our personal “unnoticed” blessings.

But how?

An Unexpected Gift

During the bleakest time of my life, the Holy Spirit dropped small lights into my darkness. My horrible circumstances didn’t change. I still felt overwhelmed by fear, anger, anxiety and grief. But He gave me eyes to see.

It started when Jesus caused me to change Psalm 27:13 into a desperate plea.

Stepping off a plane in Michigan, I found myself praying:

Please Lord, let me see the goodness of God in the land of the living.

The Holy Spirit answered by gently opening my eyes.

My situation remained excruciatingly painful. Worry, panic and grief still ruined my sleep. But every day I noticed something else that God had done to make my painful journey a little easier. Placing little candles in the darkness, each strategically spaced along the path I had to walk.

In my darkest days, the Trinity’s loving, tender care comforted me.

Conclusion

Today I still occasionally pray Psalm 27:13 as a prayer.

Because seeing His hand active in my life fills me with comfort and hope.

This image came from Pixabay.com.

Resources:

If you’re curious, here’s a link to my earlier post “Pit Dweller-Part 4” which talks about my traumatic journey. Feel free to read the other Pit Dweller posts as well. Because Jesus’ goodness shines the whole experience. He walks with pit dwellers too.

Here’s Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV):

13 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thought on “Seeing Past the Gift to the Gift-Giver

  1. Heidi Pallesen

    I really enjoyed reading this and God was all over it. Even if we are going through a hard time it is important to observe how God is making our way and helping us along our path!

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