Giver of Good Gifts

Yesterday, my family and some friends spent the day at breathtaking Lake Garda.  It was just about a perfect day.  We took a bus up to the lake, and after driving through many beautiful Italian villages, we finally arrived.  

  On arriving, we ate a snack and then found a quiet stretch of beach to swim at.  I alternately swam, looked at beautiful rocks, and lay in the sun and read.  After awhile, we were all hungry and the beach was starting to get busier, so we all went in search of food.   

We found it at a little pizzeria on the edge of the lake.  We all ate, and watched the little birds, and soaked in the breeze off the lake.  The four younger boys had decided that they wanted to sit at their own table, so the older of my two brothers and my sister and I were graduated to the adult table.  Accordingly, I had a vague idea of the plans the adults were making.    

The younger boys on the other hand, didn't have any idea.  As we left and began walking, they kept asking, "Where are we going now?  What are we doing now?" 

 None of the adults would tell them, but kept saying "Wait and see!"  

Finally, as my youngest brother asked yet again, "What are we doing?" my mom said, "Just trust us.  Trust that your Papa, just like your heavenly Father, delights in doing things that please you."  

A few minutes later we got on a boat and sailed a few towns down, and then, our dad bought us all ice cream.   

What my mom had said though, really stuck with me.  Quite honestly, it thrilled my soul.  I mean, it was literally like something leapt inside of me--a deep, deep joy.  I've been given so many gifts lately.  Some so great I can't even speak of them, some as small as little everyday sorts of things, have filled this last year to the brim.  Really, they've filled my whole life to the brim.  

And yet...and yet, there have been hard things too. Hard losses in my life, hard losses in the last year, and many hard lessons learned.  But I know that those things are gifts too.  Some of them don't look like gifts now, and I, with my small eyes and small heart and small mind can't understand how they could be anything but hard and ugly.  Some of them, however, have become beautiful in spite of the pain.  "Didn't that happen perfectly, at just the perfect time?" I ask, in awe at so many of these things, and I know they are gifts too.  
  
Jesus once said, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  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 7:9-11) 

Thank you, Father, for every gift You give.  Thank You for the ones that are full of joy and make my spirit dance, and thank You for the ones that make me cry and ache and wonder what is going on.  Thank You that You are good, and thank You that You have made me Your own so that I can call You Father.   Thank you, Father.  Amen.