The kids really spoiled me this Mother’s Day! I say that not to brag on me, but to brag on them. Without any prompting or cajoling from me or from Todd and independently of one another, they both bought me very thoughtful and personalized gifts with money they earned, made me pretty cards and filled them with words that made me cry, and created original works of art just for me. I was so moved by their extravagant giving and gifting of their time, resources, and talents that I couldn’t bring myself to clear the table when it was all over. It’s all still there, three days later.
It would have been (and has been) a different story if Hunter and/or Hope had given their gifts begrudgingly or if their cards and words had demonstrated a half-hearted effort. In the recesses of my mind, back where things that I try to forget live, a fuzzy black and white reel plays, void of sound, but full of emotion, like a 1920’s talkie. A child retreats to a bedroom and emerges late for Mother’s Day breakfast with a slapped-together card that doesn’t even meet up at the corners full of generic and sloppy words far below the child’s reading/writing level. The child holds it out with a sheepish grin. A few seconds later, a woman’s hand reaches out to take the card only because that’s what mothers do. And the flapping of tape. End of reel. No applause.
This morning, I came across this passage of Scripture:
“’I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 6:18-7:1
In Christian circles, we spend a lot of time thinking and talking about what we can and can’t do as believers, what we should and shouldn’t do and what we do and don’t have to do to stay in God’s good graces.
I think we’ve missed the point.
Those of us who have put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ for our eternal salvation have been adopted as sons and daughter for eternity. We are forever in the Father’s good graces, no matter what we do or don’t do.
That’s the miracle of the cross. That’s the glory of His goodness.
That’s what makes our hesitation at the thought of personal sacrifice, our quibbling and querying over requirements and restrictions, our reluctance to give over and give up so… well, so absolutely revolting!
Want to bless God’s heart? Want to worship Him well? Give it all, every bit of what is and could be yours—your time, your resources, your talents. If you know the Father at all, you’ll agree that He deserves no less.
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