Do You Have Eyes And Fail To See?

When my oldest son, Daniel, was five, we made a trip to the dentist so that he could have his teeth cleaned and checked. When the appointment was finished, the dental hygienist showed him a tray of little toys out of which he could pick one for being such a good patient. When Daniel proudly came out of the dental office with a shiny ring in his hand, it broke my heart, the thought of trying to explain to him afterwards that little boys don't wear rings like that. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but I also didn't want the children at kindergarten making fun of him. In my distress, I looked questioningly up at the dental hygienist: Why had she shown him a toy ring? She just smiled brightly and said, "He asked if he could pick out a ring to give to you."

To this day, I still have the ring that Daniel gave to me. It is safely treasured in my jewelry box. Here is a picture:

Have you ever noticed that the most treasured gifts are the least expensive? For example:

• A poem written to you from the heart — an English teacher might have given it a C+, but you an A.
• A picture thoughtfully and lovingly drawn with you in mind.
• A home-made card with handwritten words that simply say, "I love you!" — a store-bought card with fancy words will never compare.
• A treasured item that broke but was then thoughtfully fixed with the cracks still seen and the glue exposed.
• A precious item that was lost, but later found by someone who spent hours looking for it without you even knowing it.
• Coming home to unexpectedly find housework done or supper ready.
• Having a friend unexpectedly greet you with a plate of homemade cookies or baked goods.
• Coming home after being gone several days to find someone eagerly waiting to greet you before you even get out of your car and enter the house.

But what about the precious gifts you receive from God? Do you treasure those too? For example:

• Finding a parking spot close to the entrance of a store when you're in a hurry or not feeling well.
• Entering the first store on your list and being surprised to see that what you need is on sale.
• Hearing a bird sing sweetly outside your bedroom window when you first wake up in the morning.
• Having a considerate driver stop and let you merge in front of them during rush-hour traffic.
• Seeing one of God's amazing and beautiful wildlife creatures cross your path.
• Having a stranger offer you their help when you are in need.
• Having a person unexpectedly give you a smile, a loving touch, or an encouraging word when you are secretly down-hearted.

The most precious gifts are the little ones that God and others freely give to us. Sadly, however, we often overlook these little gifts.

"Do you have eyes but fail to see,

 and ears but fail to hear?

And don't you remember?"

Mark 8:18 (NIV)

Let's open our eyes and see the wonder in the little gifts that are freely given to us each day.