The Never Ending Gifts

Imagine life is a banquet table adorned with fine linen, candelabras, and platters of the finest gourmet food imaginable—exotic breads and cakes, luscious fruit, steaming casseroles and quiches—and a chocolate fountain with fresh strawberries and marshmallows and…okay, I’m getting carried away.

Now, imagine me sitting on the floor under the table, chomping away at my bowl of Raisin Bran, diligently scooping up a proportionate mix of flakes and fruit in each spoonful, making sure the flakes on the bottom don’t get too soggy. Busy. Nourished. Bored. What’s wrong with this picture?

My husband, Bob, says there are two kinds of people: big picture people and detail people. I’m a detail person—a perfectionist. I’ve been known to spend hours cleaning out and organizing a couple of drawers only to look up at the end of the day and see the rest of the house is a mess. I frequently get caught up in the details of life—following my nose down my list—and lose sight of the overall purpose.

Recently, I got up from doing my everyday things and peeked over the edge of the proverbial table to catch a glimpse of God’s bigger plan. My heart soared as I gazed upon the bounty of God-sized possibilities—good things in store for my life, family, church, neighborhood, city, country, and world.

The Bible says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). When I grasped hold and really believed this truth, what a different world I saw. My gaze rose to all the good things God was doing to help and heal me, my family, friends, and church family. I also saw how God was moving us all along to show His love to others. Later, as I drove down the road and looked out on all the houses, I thought, if God was doing so much good in the lives of people I knew, imagine all He was doing in these neighborhoods, this city, and everywhere—millions or even billions of answered prayers daily.

Seeing this bounty of blessings made me want to jump in and join the feast. I stopped and took note of the people and opportunities God had placed around me. I prayed, asking God to help shift my priorities and open my heart. How exciting to think God could work in and through me once I made myself available. With my eyes on God’s good plans I could truly “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice!” (Philip. 4:4 KJV)