Gifts, as they are.
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father purchased the car.
Finally on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. He told him how proud he was to have such a fine son and how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.
Curious but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible with his name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" He stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Years passed and the young man became successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family but realising his father was very old, thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since graduation day.
Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away and willed all his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse - Matthew 7:11,
'And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?'
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation and the words... PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? [source: heartnsouls]
I have been incredibly selfish whether intentionally or not. Often unintentionally so, even though this does not mitigate my selfishness at all. I want so many things in life. Hmmmm... good grades, support net of family and friends, presentable appearance, bargain purchases, considerable talent in non-academic areas amongst others. Thing is I take all these expectations and desires to God, praying for blessing and providence.
Need we pray for His providence? He will always provide. What about blessings? As the story above said, how often do we miss His blessings because we have become blinded by our own expectations?
My convocation day draws nigh. To me it seems to be just another day. To my parents it will be all they have worked so hard for throughout my life. Their sweat-earned labour, the sacrifices they made in terms of time, effort, rest; and possibly the biggest sacrifice - sending their daughter off to Australia that she may pursue her desired course, alone. For me it was: Whoopee! Freedom to do what I want to do (dropping Psychology for History of Art is kinda radical in Asia). Semester after semester I went through the mill, churning out essays and passing all my subjects. So I think I did them proud by getting through the education circus alright and not morphing into some spendthrift in Melbourne.
But graduation seems to be just another day.
I am missing the point, ain't I? My parents gave so much that I may have what they did not have when they were my age. The opportunities, the freedom to pursue what I want because they have financially provided a way out for me, the trust they have in me that I can come here and lead my independent single life. A lifetime's worth of blessings which I have either taken for granted and assumed as natural privileges or grown ignorant of. I believe my generation is one which though exceedingly blessed is also indifferent, apathetic and selfish.
And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?
So here I am thinking, if my parents gave much of what I have in life on earth thus far, what more my Father in heaven? He who waited for me for nearly 13 years since the desire to know Him more was planted in my heart in primary school, till that day when I welcomed Him wholly into my life. Throughout all those years He never let up. It is like He always brought me to places where He could speak into my heart, whether I knew it or not.
My presbyterian kindergarten; catholic primary school; Christian friends in secondary school; friend's church play during Valentine's Day where the characters kept saying Me. Me! Me? Me. (about human selfishness); those private visits to Novena Church; my maids; JC friends and their faith... and finally university here.
More than grades, achievements and meeting the standards, He desires for me to be happy, to know that at least one person loves me and is always cheering me on. That is a lot.
And familial love =)
Finally on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. He told him how proud he was to have such a fine son and how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.
Curious but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible with his name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" He stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Years passed and the young man became successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family but realising his father was very old, thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since graduation day.
Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away and willed all his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse - Matthew 7:11,
'And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?'
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation and the words... PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? [source: heartnsouls]
I have been incredibly selfish whether intentionally or not. Often unintentionally so, even though this does not mitigate my selfishness at all. I want so many things in life. Hmmmm... good grades, support net of family and friends, presentable appearance, bargain purchases, considerable talent in non-academic areas amongst others. Thing is I take all these expectations and desires to God, praying for blessing and providence.
Need we pray for His providence? He will always provide. What about blessings? As the story above said, how often do we miss His blessings because we have become blinded by our own expectations?
My convocation day draws nigh. To me it seems to be just another day. To my parents it will be all they have worked so hard for throughout my life. Their sweat-earned labour, the sacrifices they made in terms of time, effort, rest; and possibly the biggest sacrifice - sending their daughter off to Australia that she may pursue her desired course, alone. For me it was: Whoopee! Freedom to do what I want to do (dropping Psychology for History of Art is kinda radical in Asia). Semester after semester I went through the mill, churning out essays and passing all my subjects. So I think I did them proud by getting through the education circus alright and not morphing into some spendthrift in Melbourne.
But graduation seems to be just another day.
I am missing the point, ain't I? My parents gave so much that I may have what they did not have when they were my age. The opportunities, the freedom to pursue what I want because they have financially provided a way out for me, the trust they have in me that I can come here and lead my independent single life. A lifetime's worth of blessings which I have either taken for granted and assumed as natural privileges or grown ignorant of. I believe my generation is one which though exceedingly blessed is also indifferent, apathetic and selfish.
And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?
So here I am thinking, if my parents gave much of what I have in life on earth thus far, what more my Father in heaven? He who waited for me for nearly 13 years since the desire to know Him more was planted in my heart in primary school, till that day when I welcomed Him wholly into my life. Throughout all those years He never let up. It is like He always brought me to places where He could speak into my heart, whether I knew it or not.
My presbyterian kindergarten; catholic primary school; Christian friends in secondary school; friend's church play during Valentine's Day where the characters kept saying Me. Me! Me? Me. (about human selfishness); those private visits to Novena Church; my maids; JC friends and their faith... and finally university here.
More than grades, achievements and meeting the standards, He desires for me to be happy, to know that at least one person loves me and is always cheering me on. That is a lot.
And familial love =)
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