Monday meditation: Thanking God for every ‘good and perfect gift’
Part Three in our November series:
”Here’s What Jesus Taught”
”God Wants to Meet Our Needs”
Perhaps in our day of Doordash meals and home-delivered groceries, we have a little trouble relating to today’s parable. Jesus pictures a guy who discovered his bare pantry just as a friend arrived for an overnight visit, and he had nowhere to go for help but next door. Even if we’ve never begged a loaf of bread, maybe we can remember borrowing a cup of sugar or an egg from a friend down the street when we discovered the missing ingredient at the last minute. And even those who never bake or cook can likely remember needing something badly and depending on a friend to provide it.
I certainly can. I could be a poster boy for Unhandymen of America. What would I do without friends with tools and know-how who have kept our house from falling into disrepair? Even more important, how could I cope without buddies who regularly reach out to share a cup of coffee and some encouragement?
Jesus compares the neighbor to God himself. “If you can help a friend who needs some bread,” he said, “don’t you think God who made you wants to help you, too?”
“Ask . . . seek . . . knock . . .” Jesus continues, and any caregiver who believes in God (and probably quite a few who aren’t so sure) has readily obeyed. For most of us, no situation till caregiving has left us feeling more unable to handle life alone.
Perhaps this week we can remember how God has answered, especially we who celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Maybe we can see the gifts and goodness we’ve received from friends and neighbors as coming from God himself.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above,” the Lord’s half-brother wrote, “coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
So let us make a list of all the good and perfect gifts at our doorstep as we cope with this holiday this year.
For most of us, our reality will little resemble the well-crafted warmth of grocery store ads and television commercials.
For some of us, this Thanksgiving will be more difficult than any we’ve ever experienced.
For all of us trying to love the person failing before our eyes, Thanksgiving will be nothing like what we would have chosen.
But God “does not change.” We can at least be thankful for that! And as we ask him to help us each day this week, we do well to remember the many ways he already has.
Read: Luke 11:5-13 Good News Translation
Pray: We see your hand of mercy at every turn, Lord, and we’re grateful. Thank you for being the strength we do not have, meeting the needs we cannot handle, and surrounding us with others who serve you by helping us.
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