I amble to the mailbox, praising God for the strength to walk this far. Two doors down, I catch a glimpse of my neighbor returning home from his afternoon walk. Usually his wife of over sixty years accompanies him, but she is recuperating from a recent surgery.
Thinking I should visit soon, a verse I’ve been studying resurfaces, “Go in this strength you have” (Judges 6:14).
Southern hospitality dictates, I deliver a meal, but I’m not up for cooking these days. My mind replays my mother’s mantra, “April Dawn, sometimes you gotta make due with what you have until you can do better.”
Armed with a pair of scissors and a canning jar, I take inventory of my backyard blooms. I snip crimson roses, mint, magenta butterfly blossoms, and sunny yellow African lilies. My simple homegrown backyard bouquet was all I had to offer.
“Go in this strength you have” (Judges 6:14).
Armed in the strength I have, I carefully walked two doors down, holding onto the glass jar with both hands, gravel crunched underfoot. My nerve endings buzzed and crackled as the peripheral neuropathy caused my hands to go numb.
Ever joyful, Mrs. M was thrilled for the surprise visit and humble backyard bouquet. Initially, I was hesitant to visit because I had nothing special to offer. I had no grand meal prepared, no cookies baked, not even a card. All I could offer was a canning jar backyard bouquet and myself.
Ever since my chronic illness began, I have struggled with feelings of uselessness and inadequacy. I thought all I had to offer was a humble backyard bouquet, but walking home, I realized I often overlook the greatest gift I have-the gift of myself.
“Goodness is the only investment that never fails.” –Henry David Thoreau
Don’t overlook the greatest gift you have, the gift of yourself.
Do you have someone around you that could a ray of sunshine? How can you use what you already have to bless someone today?
~April Dawn White
*All Scripture is NIV from Bible Gateway. *Images courtesy of author and Pixabay.
© 2016 April Dawn White, All rights reserved