Amanda watched with anticipation as her mother opened the refrigerator. A smile broke out across her mother’s face as she reached for the note and gift tied to the milk carton. Clapping her hands and bouncing with glee Amanda giggled. “Is it from daddy?” “Yes, it is Amanda.” Amanda’s eyes grew wide excited over the prospect of gifts.
“Is there another one hidden somewhere for me?” Her mother wrapped Amanda in her arms and gave her a big bear hug. Her eyes twinkled as she replied, “Probably. You know your daddy always leaves us little notes and gifts when he goes on trips.” Amanda wrinkled her brow in thought. “Mommy, why does daddy leave us so many gifts?” “Well, Amanda, it’s daddy’s way of reminding us that he loves us, even when we can’t see him.”
Like Amanda’s dad, God gives us gifts to remind us that He loves us. Those gifts are all around us and placed where we can easily find them.
WHAT GIFTS DO YOU SEE?
Take a walk and look around you? Do you see a vast sky in vivid hues of blue and orange?
Perhaps you see puffy clouds whose shapes fuel the imagination? Or a few of the 60,0651 species of trees, some with leaves that change into fiery reds, yellows and oranges with the seasons.
WHAT GIFTS DO YOU LIKE?
God could have created one animal, one food and one season for the entire world. It certainly would have made His job easier. Instead, in His love for us, He created a variety of things to appeal to all of our senses. Just like He created us to each be unique, He created unique gifts to please each and every person’s taste.
What’s your favorite season? Do you prefer warm weather, salty air, shimmering sand and the soothing sound of lapping waves? Or is your preference the cold, crisp air and wonderland of white fluffy snow?
How about animals? Did you ever think about the vast variety in animals? We see animals with soft, velvety coats, slimy scales and sharp, prickly quills. We can find God’s creatures soaring in the air, running on land or swimming in the water.
With this much diversity, and the highly unusual, there is something to appeal to everyone.
But my favorites are the vibrant, multicolored animals.
These are just a few of the gifts that our Heavenly Father created for us to see or experience, (Genesis 1:1-30)).
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows,
James 1:17 CSB
WHY DID GOD CREATE ALL OF THESE THINGS?
BECAUSE HE LOVES US.
When Amanda’s dad was going on a trip, he created notes and gifts to leave at home as reminders of his love. God, knowing that His Son, Jesus, would minister on earth a short time, left us with reminders of His love too.
His loving notes are His Scriptures and His loving gifts are His creations.
But God, who is rich in mercy,
because of His great love with which He loved us,
Ephesians 2:4
Wherever we go, seeing God’s gifts encourages us to have faith that our Heavenly Father loves us whoever we are and whatever we do.
This is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his Son
as an atoning sacrifice for our sins,
1 John 4:10 NIV
As we look around, let’s notice the gifts God has given us every day because He loves us.
REFLECTION
Do you see how much God loves you?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Ephesians 2:4 and say it aloud, open my eyes to all the gifts that surround me. Help me to receive all the love You give and understand how very much You love me. In Jesus name, Amen.
IN FAITH, SEE & RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE
May your day be filled with love and laughter!
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For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
1 Botanical Gardens Conservation International
Photo snow, Robert C.
Photo blob fish, source pikabu
Photo spider, source worldsmostamazingthings
Photo mandarin fish, kevshoot
Photo bird, Laya Clode
Photo chameleon, Sunira Moses
