Several weeks ago I had the privilege of taking one of my grandsons on what we like to call, a “Nana Date”. We got him all situated in his car seat and proceed to the exit of the parking lot in which our adventure was beginning. We were exiting onto a somewhat busy street so I was waiting for an opportune moment. I saw a little break in traffic and proceeded to go, as I gave the car a bit of gas the engine revved and my sweet little blue eyed man in the back seat said with glee, “Nana, you have a race car”! I chuckled and said, I do? Mind you I drive a 4 door sedan, but to this little three year old, I had a race car! He said where did you get your race car? I told him that Papa had bought it for me. He asked why I got it and I told him that Papa loves me. He sat there quiet for a few minutes when he exclaimed that he knew Papa loved him and so when he gets big he hopes Papa gets him one! I couldn’t help but giggle at how his little mind was going. I later let his Papa know he was in a bit of a situation because one of his 5 grandsons is thinking he will be getting him a race car one day. This grandparenting thing can be a bit tricky sometimes.
It got me thinking about how God loves us and wants to give us good gifts. It appears at times that those gifts take a while in coming but when they come they are wonderful. Take my little “race car” for instance. I put the desire for my car on a prayer list almost 2 years before actually receiving it. God is a good father so I knew to ask specifically for what I wanted and I prayed for that. We don’t believe in operating in debt so we saved and I prayed asking God if it would be a good thing for us, to provide for us. I searched and searched and, to be honest, patience is not one of my better attributes but my waiting in the long run granted me my desire. Although, it is not really a race car it had some features I had wanted along with great gas mileage so I could drive around not only fulfilling my responsibilities but also take my precious grandkids on “Nana dates” once in a while.
I think sometimes we forget to view God as a loving father that wants to give us the desire of our hearts and we get a distorted picture perhaps from our upbringing that we have to earn things or there are conditions to gifts. God does not operate that way. He longs to lavish us with our hearts desires. He does also know the times certain gifts might not be at the right time. Would you buy an easy bake oven for a newborn baby girl? The timing of gifts are important, it reveals things about the giver. He knows us. He loves us. He wants to give gifts to be used.
I know I have received gifts from time to time that has been kept on a shelf or in a closet. I am sure you can think of something you have been given that has not been used. God wants us to use all that we are given to its fullest potential. Take for instance our spiritual gifts. He wants us to literally wear them out. All of my grandparents died and went to heaven completely worn out! Not in a bad way, they gave all they had to follow Christ and use the gifts he gave them. My Papa had the gift of hospitality he never knew a stranger. My Nana had the gift of teaching and used it in all areas of her life. My Granddaddy had the gift of help, he would help any and all in need. My grandmother had the gift of giving and blessed many including her family. Each one had many other gifts God bestowed on them as well. They all did a pretty great job of wearing out their physical gifts, meaning they knew what it meant to really get the most out of physical gifts such a cars and homes. They were not rushing to the “next” new thing. We do that even with our spiritual gifts, we seem to want what we don’t have or what someone else has. Your gifts are specifically chosen for you.
The point is this what are your gifts? Are you using them up and wearing them out? If you are that is awesome! If not perhaps you need to open those gifts up and put them to work. If my husband bought me the car and I parked it in my garage and never drove it what a waste that would be. It would not take long before it would not be useful at all, how would I get places if I never used it? What differences have been made simply by driving it? 1 Corinthians 1:3 “May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.” (The Message Translation) Start using up your gifts!
Until Next Time…
robynstroup 
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