I walked in to our Bible study last night and - believe it or not! - two of the young men (20 years old no less!) immediately said "I love your hair cut!!" Cracked me up. Geez, was it so bad before? Could have been, for I did not curl it for Bible study. After all, we were meeting in a home, it wasn't like we were at church. But I did get several compliments on it last night, but the fact that the two 20 year old young men were the first to notice as I walked in to the room made me laugh.
I had 75 messages yesterday morning when I signed on to the computer, but quickly got through them. And I even got started on pulling together the board retreat. I was told I didn't have to attend (YAY!) so that is a good thing. But it means I need to make sure the hotel - if that will be the final meeting place - comes through on everything. I've asked for quotes - which should be interesting. I looked online and rooms right now are nearly $500 a day - plus they charge $35/day resort fee. I'm hoping I can keep everything there for they would take care of the meals and meeting rooms, whereas, if my boss thinks he needs to save money, will have me reserve a conference room at the Tucson office and then I would have to have food catered there and someone watch to receive it, etc. It would be a lot more of a hassle. Oh well, I can only do what I'm told to do.
I did manage to get online for a bit yesterday and ordered some things for Christmas gifts. I'm trying to write everything down that I've already purchased, and write down what I've ordered. I think I'm done with a few of the grandchildren. Very few. I realized yesterday that I bought a pair of pants for one - he wears a 30x32 and I bought 32x30.... grabbed the wrong one. I don't think I have any grandsons that size so will have to take them back this weekend. Now I need to start my wrapping and get that done - after all, I have to do it all - the shopping, paying for it, and wrapping. That's ok, I have a better idea of what is what cause I do have to do it. But I am really at a loss for some and they will have to 'take what they get'. I buy everything in love and with thoughtful consideration; it isn't just picking something up to have a gift to give. My problem usually is I want to give everything.
Matthew 10:8 (NKJV): "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."
Actually, the words that came to mind first were the 'Freely you have received, freely give'. I was thinking this morning how grateful I am for God's blessings that we can buy gifts for others, even those we don't know. I can remember when we had so little to give, that it actually hurt that we couldn't do more. But we gave what we could. Yesterday I was able to go online and purchase a few things for the children at CRS. We had gotten an email from one of my (work) case managers with a 'wish list' for these kids. I sent him an email and asked what are most needed of this wish list. He told me that the older kids are the ones that usually don't get much as people love buying for the little ones. So I focused on the items for the older children on the wish list. Now I'm not sharing this for pats on the back - I don't want that. I'm just thinking how grateful I am that God has blessed us at this time that we can purchase a few items and donate to others. God has been so good to us.
And now that we have gotten older, we need less, and can give more to others. I'm truly grateful for that for it does my heart good. Some day my children will understand it is better to give than to receive. Right now some of them blow off the 'receive' part.... and I get it. I'm always grateful, but sometimes feel so humbled that someone would give me a gift. Just like last Sunday when the gentleman gave me the necklace. It wasn't anything expensive; it was the thought that he wanted to give me a gift of appreciation. That humbled me, but blessed me as well. No way was I going to refuse his blessing me and take away his own blessing!
Reminds me of a time - and I'm sure I have shared it in years past - when I was at a very small gym and was riding one of the exercise bikes. There was another woman on a bike in front of me. The gym had glass windows on three sides. As I rode the bike, I observed an elderly man with a shopping cart full of 'stuff' walking from the right. I watched as he walked past the doors, then stopped, pulled out a couple things wrapped in tissue paper and came in to the gym. He first walked up to the woman in front of me and she was totally rude. He was offering her a tissue wrapped gift and she refused him and told him to go away. He looked so forlorn. He then turned and came to me and smiling, offered me his gift. I took it. I remember looking into his eyes and he tells me, "God bless you". I thanked him for the gift and he turned and walked back outside, and started walking on around the building....and I kid you not - he disappeared!! I opened the tissue - which was new tissue, you know, not the wrinkled up kind when we reuse it - and it was a ceramic bear. I still have it, and I keep it as a reminder to always be kind to others. I still believe it was Jesus who came to visit that day.
It makes me think how we are in this world. We get so caught up in ourselves and what we are doing that we shut others out. The lady in front of me wanted nothing to do with this homeless man nor the gift he was offering her. She was truly rude and told him to go away. I chose to accept his gift, and I was blessed and filled with joy at it.
Jesus came to earth to give us the gift of redemption. He gave everything He had for us. Many refuse His gift and tell Him to 'go away'. They want no part of what He has to offer. But there are some of us who eagerly accept what He has for us, and we are the truly blessed ones. Riches will fade; but what we gain from following Jesus will last eternally. Will you accept His gift, freely to receive, freely given? I'm glad I did.
Blessings!
