Unexpected Gifts from God
“The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Paul is urging the Corinthian community to be generous with their love and service of one another. We get so involved with our own schedules and plans for the day that when we are asked to add yet one more thing, we get anxious and wonder how we will fit it in.
Speaking personally, I know that can happen to Clergy members not just at St Martin's, but in all churches. We have our days mapped out with meetings and deadlines, and then we receive a call to go to say prayers with someone in the hospital or hospice. Do we say yes or no? Of course, we say yes. We want to be there for our community, especially when someone asks for help.
By the grace of God, we go to the bedside, talk to the family and pray. And the wonder of it is that for the few hours that we give to those in need; we receive far more in return. We appreciate our own health, we witness compassion and love among family members, and we get strength from seeing the reactions of other relatives. We get respite from our own busy day so that when we return to the office, we have renewed energy. We have received a valuable learning experience and we have been the conduit of God’s love to others.
God knows what we need and when we need it. Do not look on interruptions to your plans as being negative. Look at them as being a gift from God who wants to be fully present to you whether you think you need it or not.
