April 2005 | May 2005 | June 2005 | July 2005 | August 2005 | September 2005 | October 2005 | November 2005 | December 2005 | January 2006 | February 2006 | March 2006 | April 2006 | May 2006 | June 2006 | July 2006 | August 2006 | September 2006 | October 2006 | November 2006 | December 2006 | January 2007 | June 2007 | July 2007 | August 2007 | September 2007 | October 2007 | November 2007 | December 2007 | January 2008 | February 2008 | Summer 2008 | Autumn 2008

What a Wonderful World!

Our two oldest sons celebrate their birthdays just a few weeks after Christmas. They were born two years and two days apart in January, and as children experienced what I like to call "embarrassing abundance"! They had Tonka trucks, Care Bears, owned more videos than our local video store and had enough books to last until college. My house honestly bore a striking resemblance to Toys 'R Us!

Early in February, just days after their prolific birthdays, my future men of God were bored and tired. Their brotherly kindness turned into a full-blown feud that would have made the Hatfields and McCoys hoot with glee.

I spoke out of my inexperience and said, "I have given you the world! What will make you happy?"

Christopher looked up at me from a shock of blonde hair and said with tears in his big blue eyes, "You make me happy, Mama."

We are victims of "embarrassing abundance" as well. "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy!" I Timothy 6:17

The secret is to focus on the Giver ... not on the gift ... to magnify the Creator not the creation. He has given us richly all things to enjoy and it is truly His joy to bless us.

But, sometimes I wonder if God ever wants to say to us, "I have given you the world! What will make you happy?" I hope that your response will always be heartfelt and quick, "You make me happy, God."