My folks sold and moved out of their condo in May. It was stressful, labor-intensive and emotionally taxing for them
as well as my brothers and me, who helped them with the final leave-taking. We
laughed some, we cried more, and I’d like to believe we accomplished the task
with grace.
You learn many lessons about the
fabric of your family when your parents pack up their home and move
out. You hear heartbreaking stories about families being torn apart over
“things”…..who gets Dad’s desk or the antique bedroom set or the patio
furniture. The experience is a real test of values and relationships and there
was an unspoken determination between us kids that this right-of-passage would
not generate any splinters between us.
I am profoundly grateful that my
siblings and I didn’t have one contentious word over the division of the home's contents. Mom and Dad could only take so much to their new apartment in a senior living facility, so we
three kids got more than we ever even wanted! What
remained we donated or left for the new owners. Since my brothers and I have
different needs, tastes and amounts of space in our homes, we each chose
different things. My folks were so happy to see things being “claimed” that if
Dad saw one of us even contemplating an item, he would say, “Take it! It’s
yours!”
My parents have always been
unbelievably generous and this move was no exception. They could have pocketed
the cash from an estate sale or could have made a big charitable donation
and taken an income tax deduction. But they did neither. They wanted us to
have anything we wanted. They were so happy for each of us to have the
treasures we had always loved from home.
Being given so much through this move
reminded me of what the Lord has told us in Scripture about His own storehouse
of “goods.” He has gifts of unspeakable worth that He will mete out to us
simply for the asking. (Ask what you wish
me to give you! 1 Kings 3:5) He has
promised us gifts such as peace,
love, guidance, wisdom, joy, faithfulness, self-control, deliverance from generational strongholds, gentleness,
discernment, patience, protection from temptation, paths through pain, healing, our
heart’s desires, a purpose, and eternal life.
I don’t know about you, but
occasionally I forget that God is a generous, benevolent father. He wants me to
have whatever resources from the heavenly arsenal that I want and need. All I
need to do is ask for these things. Yet sometimes I don’t. Instead of praying
for patience, I blame myself for lack of it. Instead of looking for his comfort
and encouragement in tough times, I resign myself to increased anxiety. I can
forget about God’s repository.
I think my parents would have felt
heartbroken if we kids had not wanted any of the cherished family belongings. I
believe God feels the same way.
The Lord has heaven’s treasures in
reserve, waiting for us. If we lack them, it is because we don’t pursue them
and claim them. God’s coffers are full. Our credit, if we have faith in Him, is
excellent and I imagine He is just yearning to whisper to us, “Take it. It’s
yours.”
And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever
we ask for anything in line with His will.
If we know He is listening when we make our requests known,
we can be sure He will give us what we ask for.
1 John 5:14-15
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