Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127:3-5 NASB
On July 15, 1994, our twin sons were born. Ezra Thomas weighed in at 3 pounds, 10 ounces. Like his brother, Asa (2 pounds, seven ounces), he had come 9 weeks early and we were concerned that we might lose them. Yet God brought him through! It was in the process of the whole ordeal, though, that we came to know his life as a greater gift than we realized at first.
It was in seeing Ezra’s little life as God sees mine that I realized this truth: God sings His love over me, yet the paradox – the mystery – is that I am the reason for the song…and in a way, I am His song…and He is my song and the reason I sing!
I know, it doesn’t make sense. But that is the way God is. His ways are higher than ours. His thoughts are higher than ours. Relationship is a two way street – even with God! I listen for His voice to me, and I speak my love back to Him. Life happens through relationship. It is the same with people. It is the same with God. In that way, I am as much a gift to Him as He is to me!
Why do I believe that? Because I, as an earthly father, feel that way towards my own son, so how much more does our heavenly Father feel that way towards us?!
God gave His Son as a gift to me. I give my life back as a gift to Him. He gave my son as a gift to me. I give my son back as a gift to Him. Life is a precious gift. Let’s be good receivers of that gift as well as good givers of that gift.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17 NASB
You have two choices in every moment of life concerning whether or not you believe God loves you. You can either believe He loves you or you can believe He doesn’t. Regardless of what you and I think, that is a done deal. God’s very nature is love…but it’s our choice as to whether or not we will receive that love. Guess which way of thinking - which belief - has brought healing into my life? Let’s be good receivers of God’s love for us today.
Dennis Jernigan
To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this blog and to hear the song Dennis wrote for his son, Ezra, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/you-are-a-gift-to-me/