“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 NKJV
Early in life, my husband and I were quite poor. We had four small children, and we both worked hard, but we still struggled.
One day, an acquaintance said she had heard we needed a better dining table. Would we like a table? She had a table and chairs she could give away. I said, “Really? Thanks!”
A friend of ours drove his truck to pick it up and then stopped by our house. He looked funny as he helped bring the table into our kitchen. “They gave me this, too,” he said, embarrassed, putting a can of spray paint on the counter. We all stared at the table. It was black, metal, rusted, and ugly. I guess we were supposed to spray it to make it presentable. It was obvious the people unloaded it on us, instead of taking it to the dump.
I never forgot that incident, remembering how dismayed and hurt I felt with the bad, thoughtless gift.
Maybe that is why I can rejoice that God delights in always giving His children good gifts, according to James. Sometimes, God even surprises us! Our library was giving away free books, and I just happened to notice a Puritan devotional in perfect condition. This book is such a treasure that I figure I will read it every day for the rest of my life! On another day, God saved my life from two large, dangerous dogs who had charged at me unexpectedly; I was able to get to safety. A third gift from God was a ministry I never knew I would love so much—serving women in jail. And the wonderful list goes on.
God will never run out of good gifts.
“Dear Father of lights, thank You for Your good and perfect gifts. May we not forget to thank You. Amen.”