DANDELION DELIVERY

OR

WHEN IS A WEED NOT A WEED?

A couple of weekends ago I went to my 5 year-old grandson's soccor game.  I love to go watch how much he and his teammates have learned up to this second season.  In the beginning, most of them would become distracted by something, like a butterfly, and stand on the field watching the butterfly rather than the ball.  This season, I can see them attempt to turn the ball, to stop the opposing team's goal, and even to try to take the ball from the other team.  Yep!  They have come a long way!

But this last game I went to, my grandson suddenly had to go to the bathroom.  His coach sent in a replacment player and off he went.  When he came back, he gave his mom a bouquest of dandelions, then took the last dandelion in his hand and gave it to me.  I was so touched by the sweetness of his presentations.  They were dandelions, okay, but at that moment they couldn't have been more beautiful or more precious than a bouquet of orchids.  I admit that I carried my treasured bloom to my car when the game was over, even though it had already started to wilt. 

And so, you see, a weed is not always a weed.  Sometimes a weed can be one of the beautiful things of life that make living really worth it!

Gifts of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:8- For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9- To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10- To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

I have been pondering the gifts of the spirit, especially the gift of healing.  There have been so many, many times in my life that I wished the gift of healing was my spiritual gift.  As I have seen the physical suffering of others, I wish I could take from them their suffering.  Not just my own family members, but certainly and especially my own family members.  Then I remember that sometimes our suffering is for our own good...that God in his infinite wisdom has a plan, and perhaps the suffering we encounter throughout our lives is actually part of that plan.  Who am I to know what good could come from such suffering?  And if I could remove one's suffering, would I be interfering with that perfect plan that God has for that individual?

As my husband's health deteriorates with age, and his suffering increases, I long to relieve that suffering.  It's hard to see one hurt and believe it could be for the good of that individual.  And yet, I have come to the conclusion that were I able to heal, I would want to heal all suffering without thought of any blessings said suffering could bring the sufferer.

So, instead of the gift of healing, perhaps I need the gift of strength to watch the suffering of others and the gift to be satisfied to do what small things I, as a mere human being, can do to comfort those who suffer.