“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV)
Generous in the Little Things
Family traditions: I love them! From the time our children were little there have been things I’ve done year after year to celebrate every holiday. Gifts, food, activities, and more, some of which I remember my mom doing for my sisters and me when we were little. Now that I am a MiMi, a new tradition I’ve come to truly cherish is my daughter taking our young grandsons shopping and allowing them to pick out anything they’d like to give us as a Christmas gift.
Those packages wrapped with lots of paper and way too much tape have become the ones I most look forward to, not because I’m expecting something grand, but because the little things inside were chosen with me in mind and show how known and loved I am by the generous, little givers.
As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t always treat God the same way. After all, I know He is powerful and can do anything. He’s performed miracle after miracle, so when I ask God for something I most often expect Him to give me something BIG. Maybe it’s healing, a new job, a relationship restored, or any of the myriad of things we put on our “grown-up wish-list” to pray for.
And that’s just what I’ve been doing lately, praying for some pretty extravagant things and yet, I find myself still waiting for God to wrap everything up neatly for me like I’ve asked him to do. Despite knowing better, I’ve begun to wonder if He’s even heard as I’ve shared what weighs heavy on my heart.
In the midst of my BIG and heavy I also decided on a whim this week to pray for my favorite birds that have been absent from my feeders all summer to return. I know it sounds like a silly, little prayer, especially with so much trouble everywhere, but I prayed it just the same.
Not even 48-hours later, looking out the window I couldn’t believe my eyes! There, scurrying down a branch toward the feeder was a Nuthatch, my favorite of all the birds. A Nuthatch that hadn’t been to my feeders in months! A Nuthatch that I thought was gone for good.
Why did God answer my silly prayer instead of the big ones I’ve been waiting on I wondered? It was then that I thought of those gifts from the boys. Tears fell and are falling again now as I type this because I’m certain that the Nuthatch, a little thing, was chosen with me in mind as a reminder that I am known, heard, and lavishly loved by the most Generous Giver and it has left me looking forward to more!
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11 (NIV)
Are you like me, waiting for God to give you something BIG but feel like it will never come? That silly Nuthatch was an “a-ha” moment, a prompting to begin to look for the little things. It has shown me, and I hope you too, that because our God is generous in the little things, He can also be trusted in the BIG things. He sees, hears, and knows our every desire.
Yes, we may think we know the what, when, and who’s we want from God, but “how much more” will we receive when we wait on the good gifts He wants to give us of His outcome, His plan, and His timing, and not just given at special times, but offered to each of us day after day, month after month, and year after year, for eternity.
Read more on generosity at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
Nothing silly about praying to see the nuthatch again. Of such things is Heaven made.
They like to say the Lord our God
is found in life’s detail,
and then they go and find it odd
when His works don’t entail
answers to our biggest prayers,
the ones that give us sleepless nights,
the ones that have us wrapped in cares
like tangled Chinese fighting kites.
God, He has a smaller view
to help us through each single day,
a benison for me and you,
that comes when we kneel down to pray;
not answer to most everything,
but quickflash of nuthatcher wing.
Love this story. God appears in ways we don’t expect or believe possible.
So good. God gives us exactly what we need, rather than our wants. He knew the joy and comfort the nuthatch would bring you!
What wonderful traditions Cindy. I love your grandsons Christmas gifts to you, that is such a treasure. I’m so happy your birds came back and your little “big” prayer for their return answered.
Visiting today from IMM #1&2
I love that tradition of your grandsons choosing gifts for you. And this is a great reminder the little blessings and answers to prayer show God’s love and care for us.
It’s always so fun to see what they choose. This year was special. Now that they’re a little older their gifts really reflected things we’ve done or said together. I treasure each one! I’m always grateful for your presence here Lesley. You are a blessing to me.
That’s just beautiful, Cindy. I’m glad you got that little reminder of the big God who loves you and sees you, even when it doesn’t seem like it. Thanks for sharing. I love how He does that in ways that are obvious only to us and no one else. Kath, your FMF neighbour at #28 this week.
It still brings tears to my eyes, Kath. I am amazed at the personal way God shows His love to us! Thank you so much for stopping in to comment. It means more to me than you know.