UNEXPECTED GIFTS OF HOPE, LOVE, AND JOY

This past Sunday our church had the privilege of hearing the music ministry of 15 children from the International Children’s Choir. As I watched them sing and dance in their native costumes, I was overwhelmed with emotion. They were beautiful and their faces shone with the love of God and the joy of His Spirit. They sang of being the “next generation” of believers who will serve the Lord with all their hearts. For all who were present they brought the gift of HOPE.

Joel and I hosted three of the youngsters in our house. Each brought their curiosity, appreciation and warmth to our home. Joshua* from Uganda is ten, Ricky from the Philippines is eleven and Sarah from Nepal (who acted as their chaperone) is seventeen. Joshua and Sarah come from Christian orphanages in their home countries. What a rich experience it was to share time with them and experience their uniqueness and individuality. Because of car problems, the children and I were confined to the house, so we did the “old fashioned” activities of playing board games, watching Christmas movies, and coloring at the kitchen table. I asked for “refrigerator art.” They got right to work and in a few minutes they presented pictures to me with the words, “I love you” written on them. They gave the gift of LOVE.

Later in the day, after dinner, Joel and I took them for a ride. A few times during the day, they had asked, “What is mall?” I tried to explain, but decided they needed to experience it for themselves. As we walked around the three-story mall, their eyes were wide with wonder. They wanted to visit with Santa, but the line prohibited us from doing that so we made up for it with ice cream.

Before tucking them into bed, I read Bible stories that I used to read to my own sons. They listened intently as I read about God’s wonderful acts of love and protection for His children. After offering a bedtime prayer, I asked them to join me in “The Lord’s Prayer,” and they did. We prayed the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples. The prayer that has been spoken by millions of people in thousands of languages around the world for two thousand years. But it  suddenly meant more to me than ever before , as I listened to the voices of these children. I knew that although we may never see each other again—that they will return to their countries around the world and face a future I can’t know—we will be connected by our faith. We will see each other someday in heaven. They gave the gift of JOY.

May the Lord bless you and give you the gifts of HOPE, LOVE, and JOY this Christmas and in the New Year!

*The children’s names have been changed for this article.

Copyright, 2011, Annalee Davis

Your Best Investment

Our family celebrated my son’s fortieth birthday this week. My oldest child, Larry, leaped across the line of middle age into the next phase of his life. I was filled with joy to know my firstborn child had reached this milestone.

It also gave me reason to pause. Where have the years gone? Wasn’t I just turning 40? How quickly life is passing! It’s so important to recognize the things that really matter.

I can recall playing in my living room with my two toddler sons many years ago. It was cold and snowy where we lived in Michigan. There were times when I didn’t leave the house for two or three days because of the frigid weather and snow piled three feet high.  When the high temperature for the day reached nine below zero, it was impossible to allow my sons to play outside for even a few minutes. I had to be very creative in keeping them busy all winter.

I remember thinking, “What am I doing with my life? I do the same things over and over again every day. What am I accomplishing for the Lord?” I reviewed my daily tasks. Make breakfast. Dress the boys. Clean up breakfast. Play with the kids. Make lunch. Clean again. Put the boys down for a nap. Prepare for supper. Clean up supper. Bathe the boys and put them to bed. Do it all over again the next day. Oh, and there may have been a few things like vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, making beds, food shopping, washing and folding clothes, arranging for playmates to visit and---well, you get the picture. Perhaps you can relate to the feelings I had back then.

What I didn’t understand as a young mother was that I was investing in the future. Everything I did to love and nurture my children would influence their lives. Being a mother is still the most important—and hardest-- job in the world. Pouring your affection, patience, care, understanding, comfort, and gifts from God into your children (and grandchildren) is still the best investment you will make in life. There’s no guarantee the stock market will make you rich. But if you invest in the lives of your children, or those the Lord has placed in the sphere of your influence, you will have a rich life.  The returns are eternal and the rewards sublime.

Take each day as a gift from God and do everything you do—even the mundane and simple tasks—as if you are doing them for the Lord. Because you are. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17, NIV)

Before you know it, you’ll be singing “Happy Birthday” to an adult.

Have you stopped seeing the value in what you do every day? Can you see God in the mundane and routine things of life? Try doing everything in the name of Jesus with thanksgiving to God. It will change your perspective!

Copyright, 2011, Annalee Davis

Thanksgiving Praise

Whatever our circumstances, there is always something to be thankful for. Take time to reflect over this past year and remember all that God has done. Above all, let's be grateful for the wonderful gift of salvation through Jesus Christ that has been given to us. We are forgiven, and we are loved. Every day -- all year long -- God's love is showered on us. And that's a lot to be thankful for!

Here's an acrostic poem I had published in The Secret Place. I hope it helps you get started.

Thank you, Father, for blessings bestowed
Harvest, health, hope and home--
Ample gifts sent from above
Needs met daily by your love.
Kindness, grace and mercy full
Showered from your heavenly throne,
Giving us abundant life--
In many ways your care is shown.
Victory in all our trials
In keeping with your Word
New beginnings, lives fulfilled
Glorious Lord, your Praise be heard.

(Published in The Secret Place: Devotions for Daily Worship, Fall 2005)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Copyright, 2011, Annalee Davis

Blessed Are My Tears

“Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!”

How many of us heard these words when we were growing up? I sure did. I cried often as a child. It didn’t take much for me to burst into tears. I still hear the teasing from family members and friends with words like, “Annalee is always crying!”

We all have things to cry about, some good, many not. What I couldn’t know back then was that my tears had to do with pain. My childhood was filled with the trauma of sexual abuse and rape. Maybe you can relate. It wasn’t until I was forty years old that memories of  the violations began to emerge. I had lost so much as a result of ten years of abuse. My innocence.  My trust.  My sense of good in the world.  A healthy perception of God.  A  sense of worth, and a life free of crippling fear and anxiety. As an adult, I grieved my losses and the tears flowed. I grieved the four-year-old child who was robbed of her selfhood by those who perpetrated evil on her. And with every subsequent memory, tears fell.

I used to despise my tears. I was always embarrassed by them, especially when they flowed without explanation whenever I tried to share my feelings about the Lord. Every time I spoke of God’s goodness and love for me, or how I saw Him working in my life, I broke down in tears. Even though they were tears of gratitude, they embarrassed me.

I’ve stopped apologizing for my tears. I know now that they represent the grace of God flowing through my life.  In my youth, tears were the means of living with the pain and shame that were left in the wake of abuse. Tears were often the healing balm that comforted my troubled soul and aching heart.
I’ve since learned that tears actually release toxins from our bodies and can make us healthier physically as they wash over and bring healing to our broken spirits.

The next time you cradle a box of tissues in your arms, don’t be ashamed of your tears. Tears are a gift from the Lord. And the next time you sit with someone who is grieving or simply shedding a few unexplained tears, give them the gift of your own tears.

Don’t forget, Jesus wept. He summed it up in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

For an added blessing, go to YouTube.com and listen to Brian Duncan’s song titled,      “Blessed Are the Tears.” I think his words will comfort you, too.

 Are there losses you need to grieve? Have you allowed the gift of tears to heal your soul?

Copyright, 2011, Annalee Davis