YOUR DAILY GIFT!

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,' says my soul. 'Therefore I hope in Him!’" Lamentations 3:22-24. (NKJV).

“You don't understand. I don't deserve a gift.”

A DAILY GIFT

“Believe me, I understand,” Aunt Janie said, causing Cing's eyebrows to lift. She patted the cushion. “Sit.”

“Ben was concerned about a boy with a Perthes hip. It wouldn't heal properly if he didn't keep weight off it, so we visited Larry.   

“Leaving the paved road, we bounced down the lane, rutted and filled with potholes, and arrived at the small unpainted house. 

“A woman came to the porch, a little girl in her arms. Ben walked up to the steps. Before he could introduce himself, Larry came running from around back, jerked to a stop.  

“Mr. Ben, you came.”

“Told you I would and I see you're putting pressure on your hip.” Larry looked down, dug his toe into the dirt.

Invited in, Larry's mom removed a chicken from a chair, brushed the cushion with her hand, and insisted I sit. Ben explained why her son needed to protect his hip and how to care for it. 

"Thank you for taking time to see about my Larry. He loved camp and talks about you." She looked at me.

"Before you go..." She hurried into the back room, returned with a package of hose. 

“Until you better paid," she extended the package to me. "Y'all’s visit means the world to me," her voice wobbled

Ben nudged me, and nodded. 

How could I take her hose? Her new ones? I swallowed the lump.

“Thank you,” I said, looking into her beaming face. I kept that gift for many years. A reminder of the many ways I'm blessed because God is Faithful. He is compassionate and merciful--all the time.”

“Did you see Larry again?”

Aunt Janie smiled. “After medical school, during internship, Ben walked in, leaned against the kitchen door. ‘Guess who I saw today?’ He grinned at my shrug. ‘Larry. He looks great. Hip healed.’ He reached for my hand. ‘We serve an awesome God.’”

“So what you're telling me is—it's all about the Lord?”

“Absolutely. All because of His Mercies and His Compassion.”

She bit her bottom lip. “I want to hope in Him. Will you pray with me?”

“Of course, darling girl.  ‘Heavenly Father, I come to you so excited Cing wants to hope in You--‘“

“Yes, Lord. I want to hope in You and know You like Aunt Janie. Please come into my heart today. Thank you, Lord.” She turned. “Can I go and tell Samantha about Jesus?”

“Absolutely.” She smiled as she swiped away a tear. “Thank you, Lord.”

Kingdom Thinking. Because of the Lord’s mercies, He promises never to leave nor forsake me. He loves me with an everlasting love. His compassions are new every morning--a daily gift. He offers the same to you. Won’t you come?