It really does rob the joy …

Today I had a fun opportunity to serve two strangers. As I was walking to my car in the long-term parking lot at our little Billings airport, I saw an elderly couple walking around, pulling their suitcases, looking a little tired, frustrated, and confused. “Can’t find your car?” I called out. “Yup. Our neighbor said he’d leave it for us but my husband has walked this entire lot three times and we can’t find it.” So I offered to drive them around the lot in my car. When it wasn’t there, I paid my rate in order to exit the lot and take them over to short-term parking. After a couple of loops — there it was. Yipppeee! It’s always fun to help someone just for the joy of helping them.

But then they insisted on throwing a $5 at me “for the gas.” I cried out, ‘No! No! Please don’t give me any money!’ as I tried to give it back repeatedly. They literally threw it on my dash.

What a bummer. It really did steal a bit of the joy.

I wonder why they did it. Did they feel beholden? Does the cash somehow erase some sort of debt? Is it really that hard to just receive a gift?

It made me think of this last conference I did in the Midwest this past weekend. I was really behind the ball on setting up my resource table and a sweet woman, Pat, came up and asked if I needed any help. Uncharacteristically for me (I usually reply, “No, thank you, I’m fine.” whether I am or not.), I said truthfully, “Yes. Yes, I do.” (I really did!) She sat there and stuffed tapes into their little boxes and really blessed me — most of all by her kindness and generosity, but also by her practical help.

And all this thinking brought me back to one of my college summer short-term missions trips, when I wrote a thank you note to a supporter that must have said something like, “Thank you for your generous gift and support. I pray that God will bless you for your kindness and gifts.” I remember an older gentleman in the church saying something to me like, “Honey, you just don’t get it.” (Something about my theology or grace or something like that.)

I was puzzled at his response. I really didn’t get grace back in 1990 and I know I don’t fully understand it even now … but tonight I think I may have grown even just a tiny bit in grasping how lavish is the gift of grace God grants us in Himself.

He doesn’t bless us because we are good people. He blesses us because He is the compassionate and gracious God!

We really cannot repay His kindness and mercy. No way. It’s ludicrous to try.

We receive it daily. Minute by minute. And thank Him!

Thank You, God. Amen.