RED CARPET READY Now That’s a Gift!
by DeAnn Alaine
T
he day was March 27, 1979, and I was six years old. The sun had just come up; it was the only day I was excited to be cleaning. Anyway, I would help clean and work at staying out of the way (I was the youngest). Why was this day different? Hey, some of you are getting ahead of me! But you’re right—it was my birthday. After some hilarious games, it was time for the presents— my second love language. To this day, if someone placed a six-pack of chocolate fudge pudding in a gift bag with tissue paper, I’d be thrilled! I was the kind of girl who liked Hot Wheels, Sit-N-Spin, and Play-Dough! Then it happened. One of the girls asked me to open her present. It was an odd shape, and when I turned it on its side, she hollered, “No! You must keep it this way!” I started to carefully open the gift, and you’ll never guess what one 6-year-old gave to another 6-year-old. A plant! My sisters were laughing so hard and there was my mother saying, “Honey, hold up your plant so I can take a picture!”
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I tried very hard to smile through the agony of getting a plant—and to get that moment memorialized with a Polaroid?!?!?! I think my mother enjoyed that situation a little too much.
The more I trust Him, the more my faith in Him grows. As a believer, I’m beyond grateful for the gift of salvation that Jesus freely gave to me. But what about the gift of being proven by God—like Daniel in the lion’s den, Noah as he built the ark, or Job losing everything! All these men were counted righteous before these situations occurred. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you (Romans 12:3 NIV).
