It happened in the grocery store!
Near their home, there’s a great grocery store, locally owned, that Jayme and the girls have gone to since they were little. The store now has child-sized shopping carts for the little ones accompanying their mothers in the search and gather of grocery shopping.
Addie was pushing her cart along behind her mama when a lady noticed her, ‘O hello! You have beautiful blue eyes! You are just so pretty!”
Addie beamed! “Thank you!”
As Jayme and Addie continued to shop, they went down the next aisle looking for the next thing on their list.
Addie looked up at her mama, “Mama, why don’t people stop you and tell you how pretty you are?”
Jayme looked around surprised and said, “Well honey, I don’t know. I guess I’m just not as cute as a pretty little girl?”
Addie reached out and patted Jayme gently on the arm in a “Bless Your Heart,” gesture. “But mama, you do have pretty hair.”
She’s an encourager. Sometimes it comes along with other expressions and actions.
Her daddy had his birthday recently, and she told me she wanted to get him a surprise. I told her mama, and she took Addie to select the Happy Birthday helium balloon she wanted to give Daniel.
We gathered around and blew out candles, gave Daniel his gifts, and sang Happy Birthday. Addie disappeared for a little while. She came back with one her very favorite toys. Shy shyly put it in front on Daniel, and said, “Daddy, I want to give you this for your birthday.”
She gave what she had, what was important to her, what was special to her, what she loved—-and she gave it freely. It was the only one she had like it.
How do we compare in being sensitive to the feelings of others in situations where they could feel slighted? How do we compare in freely, selflessly giving to others of what we love?
The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Build up. Don’t tear down. How often have you watched someone’s expression deflate from another person’s words that cut, or hurt, or criticize? How often have you drawn the left out person into the accepting circle?
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says: “Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Addie was a cheerful giver. She made up her own mind and selected her own offering to giver her Daddy, who she loved, to show him how much she cared, and how much she wanted him to have a special, happy birthday.
When we give to others we can give in Jesus’ name, remembering all He has given us, and give as unto Jesus Himself. We can honor Him as we share with others.
Do we have a cheerful, loving, overflow of pure emotion when we give to God? Do we give as a child gives —-not counting the cost? Do we encourage freely and lovingly?
Let’s think about it .
