The Gift

by Joey Davis

My childrens' birthdays are only three days apart. However, their points of view on basic things often seem universally different.

Last Saturday, I picked them up from their grandparents house. On the way back, they could only think of one word. . .

McDonalds! 10 them, a happy meal and the McDonald Land playground is comparable to the joys of heaven. So we stopped in for our USDA daily recommended allowance of grease. (Don't be fooled. . . I like grease.)

When we got to our table and I began doling out the happy meals, Sawyer came first. I opened his chicken nuggets, put ketchup on his fries, then showed him the toy that came with his meal. It was a Hercules Frisbee that had a built in whistle.

While it was a piece of junk by most people's standards, to Sawyer, he just got a gold bar from Fort Knox. He fondled it, tore into the package, then looked up and asked the strangest question. . . "Did Olivia get one too?"

Knowing the way Sawyer feels about Olivia, a true translation of this question would be "did Olivia get one, because if she didn't, I'll give her (not share) mine." Olivia began looking at the toy, then looking at me. Her expression told me that she would have taken the toy and never thought twice.

I'm proud of both of my children. But Saturday, my heart was with Sawyer. My little boy taught me a lesson about being willing to denying himself for those he loves. . .

. . . I'm thankful for the gift of salvation that I have through my Lord. It truly is the greatest gift I've ever received. But I've often wondered if it is acceptable to God for me to enjoy my salvation when I'm aware that others are not saved.

The double-edged sword of Christianity is that we are to be happy in our Lord, but never satisfied as long as others are outside of His shelter of mercy and grace. Somehow, some way, we are called by the Master to create a balance in our lives between "rejoicing in the Lord always," and "going into all the world making disciples of all men."

How do we create this balance? Saturday, Sawyer taught me the first step. . . denying ourselves for others. May this week be an exercise in evangelism's first step! ( Philippians 2:3-4)

• Gifts -Jan 07, 1996
• My Birthday -Jul 02, 1995