A few months ago, I bought a new bible. I also bought one for a friend who had just become a Christian. I bought two, identical in every way, except the cover. My friend has dark hair and I thought that a burgundy and gray Bible would be just right for her. For myself, I picked the perfect cover: it was a light caramel color with a faux leather cover with flowers stamped on it. I wanted it so much. It was completely me!
The bibles arrived. I opened them, wrote the dedications in the front and then realized something: the burgundy and gray one had three snaps on it to keep it closed; the caramel one did not. My friend has rheumatoid arthritis and her hands are swollen and the snap at the top of her bible was very stiff; she wouldn't be able to open it easily or comfortably. It made me very sad, but I realized that she should have the caramel -- my beautiful, perfect-for-me bible. I sadly wrote a new dedication in the caramel bible and gave it to her on the day of her baptism. I had really wanted that bible.
It took only a few days to realize that God gave me the bible that I needed. I wanted to carry the new bible in my purse and I put everything in my purse: two organizers, wallet, crayons, (no diapers, anymore) snacks, knitting. If I put the caramel bible in my purse, it would have been wrecked in a few months, but the snaps on the burgundy and gray protected it so the pages wouldn't get rumpled and torn.
I could thank God because He gave me, not what I wanted, but what I needed. And the fact that I don't care for the colors keeps me humble and is a reminder that what I need is better than what I want.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I'd love to hear what you think, but let's be kind and respectful in our comments to one another.