Almost two years ago the pastor at my church retold a story of Adrian Rogers’–a well-known pastor who died in 2005 but whose sermons are still on the radio–about a time when Mr. Rogers was a college student in Florida.
Shortly after they arrived home from summer break he and his wife sat in their kitchen when they noticed a little boy sneak into their yard and steal fruit from their orange tree. As he watched and ruminated on the situation over time he eventually said this:
“Suppose that little fellow had come up those stairs, knocked on my door and said, ‘Mister, may I have one of those oranges from your tree?’ You know what I would have said to him? ‘Absolutely not!’ because it’s sour. ‘But, son, if you’ll come in here I will load you down with more oranges than you can carry. I’ve got the best oranges you’ll ever eat right here, and they’re spoiling for someone to enjoy them.’”
I have thought about that story many times over the past two years and I think it best describes why I am a Christian. I’m here on this earth and that can’t be changed. So if I’m here then I want to be overloaded with the sweetest, most delicious blessings to be found, and I want more of them than I can carry.
Because if I’m here on this earth I do not want to live my life thinking sour oranges are all that’s available. I do not want to live my life apart from His light. I have been there, felt the loneliness, and it is a place to where I am not returning.
I am thankful to live in the presence of my Heavenly Father who aches to give blessings to me. Because of His joy I can more fully appreciate the companionship of my husband and the smiles of my children and the wisdom of my family and the laughter of my friends.
And so on this Thanksgiving I am thankful for my husband and my children and my family and my friends. But more so I am thankful for my God who anxiously waits to bless those who love Him and who has so graciously blessed me.