Dandelions, Rocks and Sticks
Exodus 4:2
Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff”, he replied.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
The above picture is of my granddaughter Galilee. She was inspecting Dandelions. It happened that on this day she was the only grandchild here, but when my other 3 are here with us, we inspect, find and hold onto many other things as well. I am finding that what children hold dear and what adults hold dear can be drastically different. Children’s hands end up holding…dandelions, rocks, sticks, dirt, mud, bugs, feathers, leaves, flowers, nails, weeds and a plethora of many others. Adults can hold many of the same things, but somehow the meaning is different. Watching children hold things in their hands can be quite an experience. They stop (for a loooong time)…look intently…pick it up…inspect it very closely. Sometimes holding it up close to get a better look, or even putting it in their mouth so they can taste it. They will take seemingly forever for the whole process to take place and then…start the whole thing over again as they see another treasure. Simple, wonderful things in the hands of a child.
We place many things in our hands throughout the day as well. Most of us have some of the same things in our hands day after day. We don’t take the time to stop and closely look at what is there. We just assume that the purpose of this thing is the most apparent one. To serve us. But, God has something else in mind.
When God is getting Moses ready for the very difficult task of delivering His people out of Egypt, He does a strange thing, according to our standards. Moses wants to know how they will know that he, Moses has been sent by the living God. God does something so simple that we miss it. We miss it in the Word and we miss it in our daily lives. He asked him what was in his hand. Moses replied, “A staff.” Something he had with him everyday of his life. It was something so simple and to him, only used for one purpose…to lead his flocks. But, God turned it into something of great importance. It’s meaning completely changed when God took that staff and used it many times over to show His power. Just a staff…but so much more when used for His glory.
What do we have in our hands that fit that description? Children take things that look like junk to us…and turn it round and round in their hands…inspecting, looking, admiring. We have things in our hands every day that God wants us to inspect, look at and decide to do something with. Something for Him. Let me try and give us some examples. I know once you look at what you have, God will show you many more!
Our keys to our cars. Where do our cars take us? Where WE want to go. How about if we use those same keys to take someone to where THEY need to go? To the doctor, to the store, to visit a friend who is hurting. Our wallets and our money. Things are tough right now. Most of us think that we are struggling with finances. But, if we take a serious look at what we REALLY have, we will find that we have much more than most of the world around us. And more than we need. Why not give some away? Look for needs around you, take your money and spend it on others for His glory. Groceries, diapers, a meal, a special gift, gas…look for a need and meet it.
Hands. Your hands. My hands. They don’t even have to have any THING in them. Empty hands are sometimes the best hands of all. For several reasons. They are free to hug. Since Rick died, I think that is sometimes my greatest need. There are two women in church who find me every Sunday JUST so they can hug me. What a gift. Empty hands are free to touch, hold on to, wipe a tear, clap, raise in worship, fold in prayer… Empty hands are free to be filled with what HE wants to place there.
What do you have in your hand TODAY that He can use? Will you look at it differently than ever before? Will we be willing to take what He has placed there and use it for His glory? If we are, that changes everything! That “thing” is no longer just a simple “thing” anymore. It becomes a God given instrument with eternal impact. Even after the “thing” is out of our hand and gone from our sight…what it was used for will last forever. That’s God’s way…and only He can do that. Will we let Him?
Looking at my hands today and sending much love,
Debbie
