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The Four Gals’ Farewell Tour
This month, three of my sisters and I are getting together for what one of us has entitled, “The Four Gals’ Farewell Tour”. We’ll be trying to find the places we knew in younger days in Benton County, AR. One of us is from OK, one from TX, one from KS, and the youngest, after years in CA, lives in Benton county, of all things!
When we were teens (not the youngest - she was a toddler) along with my younger sister, now deceased, we’d often find ourselves in dire need of “a Coke”. (short for any soft drink) Now let me explain, when you lived out in the Ozark hills, you occasionally realized the need for “a coke”. The drive of 15 miles to the county seat was nothing - gas was only 20 cents a gallon. But first you had to get permission 1) to take a car; and 2) to go.
So in our honeyed voices, we’d descend upon our poor, tired, hard-working Daddy with hugs and kisses and batting eyelashes and sweet, so sweet voices, wheedling, cajoling, importuning. It went something like this:
“Daddy? Oh, Daddy, we just want to thank you so much for all you do? We appreciate how you work so hard to provide for us? We know how tired you must be? {Slight pause here.} Daddy? Would it be OK for us to go to town and get “a coke”? We really need “a coke”? Please, Daddy, please?”
At this, our beleaguered Daddy would put down his Zane Grey or Louie LaMour book, sigh deeply, put on his hardest face, and bark, “NO!”
Now, right there, we knew we had it made! We could practically feel the taste of “Coke” on our lips! When Daddy used that tone of voice, our cause was a slam dunk case (only I don’t think we used that phrase - slam dunk - back in those days). Since the keys were always in the car, all we had to do was stand there expectantly fawning over him, sweet smiles on our expectant faces.
Finally, with a deep sigh, reaching for his wallet, he’d pull out some money, and we’d grab it and go! Happy girls! Happy Daddy! And it made Daddy happy to give to his beloved (precious, lovely, sweet) girls.
Our Heavenly Father’s Gifts
You know, we didn’t deserve those “cokes”. We’d not had to work for them. And it’s just the same with our Heavenly Father. Everything we have is a gift from our loving Heavenly Father (except for the frowny-faced “no!”). We’ve not earned it. We’ve not even known enough to ask for it usually. And He gives.
So often, though, we get tied up with thoughts of - you know - altogether now - “STUFF”. Things, lifestyle, those tangibles we use, live, and EXPECT. In the book of James, we’ve learned “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights.” (Jas. 1:17)
But do we think of people as gifts? (Well, except for our perfect and loving son and daughters!) One lady in our Bible Study shared this with us:
““Every person who comes into your life is a gift that God has specially selected and wrapped for you and put into your life. Our job is to unwrap it and respond.””
So here we stand with gift in hand. In the title of an old stewardship study: “WHATCHAGONNADOWITHWHATCHAGOT?”
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
Types of Giving
““There are three kinds of giving: Grudge giving, Duty giving, and Thanksgiving. Grudge giving says, ‘I hate to.’ Duty giving says, ‘I ought to.’ Thanksgiving says, ‘I want to.’ The first comes from constraint, the second from obligation, the third from a free heart. Nothing much is conveyed in grudge giving, since the gift without the giver is bare. Something more happens in duty giving, but there is no song in it. Thanksgiving is an open gate into the Love of God.””
As we head joyfully into the wonders of beautiful June, as we celebrate Father’s Day, and as we give as we have so lavishly received, may I leave you with one more quote?
““Go break to the needy sweet charity’s bread;
“For giving is living,” the angel said.
“And must I be giving again and again?”
My peevish and pitiless answer ran.
“Oh no,” said the angel, piercing me through,
“Just give till the Master stops giving to you.””