We have passed through the holiday season yet again and I wonder how many of us received an unexpected gift.
Typically gifts are a surprise, but a surprise gift and an unexpected gift might be placed in two separate categories: a surprise gift – a mystery until it is unwrapped, an unexpected gift – one that shows up out of nowhere, even unintentional maybe. Those in the second category are the ones we remember for years to come. They arrive at any moment they wish and as rarely as they please.
This year on Christmas morning as our family members busied themselves with small-talk looking over the gifts that had already been opened, a hush began to fall as my Dad read aloud.
He held in his hands a 100+ year old Bible he had just unwrapped. As he admired its age and beauty he noticed a clipping pasted inside the cover. The words pierced the cozy, festive morning as their truth landed with comfort and hope on every heart who listened.
Our lives are not always moulded as we would desire, yet we are stronger for having met our problems and mastered our complexities. Our prayers are not always answered as we had hoped. A greater purpose sometimes comes from unanswered prayers.
“He asked for strength that he might achieve; he was made weak that he might obey.
“He asked for help that he might do greater things; he was given infirmity that he might do better things.
“He asked for riches that he might be happy; he was given poverty that he might be wise.
“He asked for power that he might have the praise of men; he was given weakness that he might feel the need of God.
“He asked for all things that he might enjoy life; He was given Life that he might enjoy all things.
“He has received nothing that he asked for, all that he hoped for. His prayer is answered. He is most blest.”
The name of the author is not included in the clipping, but the heart of the individual reflects his or her beautiful understanding of God’s sovereignty.
Perspective can shift an entire set of circumstances to show us that God is there. This was an unexpected gift of light and hope and understanding of how God’s ways are not always our own.
I would love to hear from you.