By His Grace and In His Word Ministries has moved!

You should be automatically redirected in 6 seconds. If not, visit
http://jeniferjernigan.com/
and update your bookmarks.

2.04.2009

Are You Willing to Give it Up?

There were three happy meals; two of them contained the same cheap, soon to fall apart toy found in most happy meals, but the other toy seemed to be new and improved and a must have for every child. To keep the peace among the kiddos, my husband gave the older two the same toy and hid the new and improved toy safely away from greedy eyes and hands.

As we packed up to leave, hubby called the kiddos over to our table, "which one of you are willing to give me your toy?"

"Huh?", replied my son.

"Which one of you will give me your toy?", hubs said again.

As my daughter sat there in silence thinking through what her daddy was asking her, my son quickly responded, "I'm not giving you my toy. It's mine."

Finally she spoke up, "I'll give you my toy Dad," was the response of this 9 year old child to her daddy.

For all she knew, she was giving up her cheap, yet precious in her eyes, toy to her daddy with nothing expected in return. She handed it over; not begrudgingly, but willingly placing it into the hands of her daddy, letting go of the toy she had once thought was the best happy meal toy she had ever gotten.

Much to her surprise, and to the surprise of us all, her daddy reached into a bag, pulled out the new and improved, must have happy meal toy, and placed it into her little hands. "Because you were willing to give me your toy, I am giving you something better," was the reply of her daddy.

Whoa! I did not expect that. I sat there for a moment and then it hit me. Like my son, we all hold onto things, unwilling to give them up because they are OURS and we can't imagine our lives without them. We are selfish creatures, unwillingly to let go due to the fear of being without. Little do we know that most of what we are clinging to pales in comparison to what the Father desires to give us. God has new and improved, state of the art blessings awaiting you and me. The key is that we must be willing to let go of the cheap, second rate toy, in order to receive the greatness of His rewards.

I ask you today, as I've asked myself already, what are you holding onto that is hindering you from receiving God's best for your life? Are you willing to let it go so that you can receive His bountiful blessings?

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
comes down from the Father of lights, with
whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."
James 1:17, NKJV

8 Lovely Thoughts Shared:

Beth in NC said...

What an awesome life lesson Jenifer! That was beautiful! And you're so right. If we would just let God have the counterfeit -- we would be much better off!

Unknown said...

WOW!!! to have the heart and wisdom to trust our heavenly father. Awesome object lesson.

Those expectations and our desires keep us from the better gifts from the Father.

Anonymous said...

wow you are a blessing to me thanks..

Cheryl

Anonymous said...

Jen & Chris,
Your blog today was wonderful. It’s so exciting to watch as you and Chris live your lives for Christ and grow our babies in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You both amaze me as again and again you take daily life lessons and teach Hannah, Will and Lydia things about God and his plan for their future – “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’” and that he wants to give them far more than they could ever imagine if they are only willing to trust Him. May you both be blest far beyond what you can imagine!!

Much love to you both,
Mom

Anonymous said...

It is always the simplest of things that comfound us the most in our spiritual life. The concept of "letting go" is extremely simple(probably intentional by GOD) yet we struggle with that the most.

Chris

Alicia The Snowflake said...

What a beautiful analogy my friend! I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father knows what's best for me. May I learn to always accept.

Thanks for sharing! I hope you are doing well!

Carol said...

Great illustration! Thanks for visiting today. :)

N Dyess said...

This is an awesome post and what an great example. Thanks for sharing this! God Bless!