Ignoring the Small Gifts...

The other morning I was washing dishes and staring out of my kitchen window. The sky was gray and it was drizzling. I love the rain, and I am always looking at clouds. This particular morning, however, I wasn't enjoying gazing at the clouds because I was so tired from the night before (my toddler did not sleep and so neither did I). I was simply trying to finish the dishes so I could sit down for a second before my little one finished watching his video.

As I sighed with relief at only having a few more dishes to wash, I looked out of the window only to find the most beautiful break in the clouds I have ever seen. It was as if the Lord had carved out a wedge in the clouds just for me. The light shining through the opening was so bright it actually hurt my eyes to look at it, but I didn't want to look away from it.

I am always in awe of the gifts God gives His children. He formed us. He knows all of the things that will truly bring us joy and it gives Him great joy to provide them for us. How often do we miss out on His "small" gifts because we are so busy looking out for the big ones? How often do we get so busy living our daily lives that we overlook the beauty and blessing of our Lord?

He loads us daily with benefits (Psalm 103), but do we allow ourselves to get so overwhelmed with life that we don't recognize them? The Lord knows this life is full of many challenges and struggles (John 16:33). He gives us many gifts to soothe our pains, discomforts, and disappointments that life can give us at times.We just need to keep our eyes open for them.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:16-18