An Open Hand

Many times a day, I extend my arm behind me, fingers outstretched, waiting for a little hand to grab mine.  I grip that little hand tightly - keeping my child close - as we walk across a street, through a parking lot, or around a store.

I keep a tight fist around many other things, too.  Things I want to protect.  Things I call my own.

It is easy to open our hands to receive a gift…a life, a relationship, time, money, desires.  But once we have a gift, can we hold it with open hands?  Do we believe that God Himself will supply our needs, even if the gift goes?

“Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” Deuteronomy 15:11b

Have you ever watched a little boy catch a lady bug?  He holds it with a clenched fist and bright eyes – thrilled by his new find.  If he’s caught a lady bug before, it takes some coaxing to get him to open his fist.  He knows that he may only have a moment to examine the red and black insect before it flies away.

There always comes a time to open our hands.

Whether it’s time, money, even just a shower in the morning… 

 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.” Proverbs 3:27

Particularly in this season of mothering young children, there is a temptation for the mother to keep a tight grip on her body, her sleep, her “me time,” her morning shower or tea.  The Lord gently opens my fingers and shows me the blessing of keeping a loose grip on these gifts, for the sake of another.

Whatever season you are in, open your hand.  You’ll see the blessing of obedience and the goodness of God’s sovereignty as He allows those gifts to come and go. 

Enduring Pearls

Words…they echo through eternity.  The spoken word has eternal consequences.  The written word is just as permanent.  I am well aware that the words I type now will likely last beyond my fragile body.  
 

That should be a good enough reason to not start a blog.

But here we are.  God has led me away from time-wasting and led me to spend time writing. Husband thought the name of this blog should include “pearls.”  Knowing how he loves to see me wear pearls, I smiled and took that to heart.  We must’ve tried a hundred different words with “pearls” and had no success until I read Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”
Endurance…  Enduring Pearls.

It’s available.  Husband likes it.  The name is nothing more than a reminder to me to write of things that will last and to run with endurance.  As Husband pointed out, I’ll often be writing from God’s Word – and therein lies enduring treasure.