Proverbs 10:22
God’s blessing makes life rich;
nothing we do can improve on God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
It’s been a busy few days in our family. Last night, we attended the opening performance of our High School Theatre Department’s spring production of “Crumpled Classics” – the tale a high school drama group that rewrites and performs some of the “classics” in a modern-day fashion. Our great-nephew, Timothy, had roles in the scenes from “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Phantom of the Opera.” The smile on his face when the troupe took their closing bow said it all. No amount of money in the world could buy that kind of joy.
At the same time, our Zola and her mother had traveled to a city on the outskirts of Little Rock for a dance competition, where Zola’s solo garnered her a “Double-Platinum” award – and 7th place overall in the competition. She is one of the only girls from our local studio to place overall at three recent competitions. I wish I could show you photos of her in action, but we’ve been asked not to share them until after the recital next month. If you could see that girl soar through the air, you would understand her joy and artistry when she dances.
This morning, Greg and I watched a documentary about Lucille Ball. Hers is a poignant “rags to riches” tale, and she is one of my favorite “stars” of all time. But two things stood out to me. Friends and associates noted that Ball loved to work…and when she was no longer offered shows – or physically able to perform her famous “shtick” as she once had – she truly lost her spark and her joy. It wasn’t about the money or fame to her…it was about the work. The other thing that got me was the story one associate told of her gathering the pencils after a staff meeting . Even after she became president of a major production company, Lucille Ball would take home the pencils and save them. She said that as a child, she didn’t have pencils…“We wrote with coal.”
These three examples of people finding riches in God’s blessing are the tip of the iceberg. So many of us are “chasing rainbows” – contemplating our next big “score” or dreaming of winning the lottery so that we could truly “have it all” – and we don’t see God’s wealth and abundance all around us. We don’t appreciate the beauty of nature…the chorus of songbirds or the intricacies of butterflies and the flowers that feed them. We don’t stop to drink in the joy on the faces of teenagers who have just poured out their heart and soul in a performance and momentarily revel in the applause this brings.
We don’t fully appreciate that we woke up this morning! Not only that…many of us woke up in a warm, cozy bed…experiencing great health…with plenty to eat in the fridge and pantry…clothes to wear…people to love and who love us…and so much more! We take so much for granted, even as we strive to acquire more – of everything from money and “stuff” to attention and accolades. And Solomon tells us in this Proverb that if we aren’t careful, we will miss God in the process!
My prayer today is that we would not miss the real blessings in life…that we would be awake and alert to the joys and accomplishments of those we love…that we would be just as grateful for a new pencil as we would for a new gadget or gizmo. I pray that we would not be focused on finding blessings in “things” and “success” – but rather in God’s work in and through our lives – and in the joy that He brings in forms great and small.
The day we stop appreciating what God gives us…or try to acquire the world’s “wealth” is the day that we start to lose it all. Make this the day that you stop and count your “riches” in God’s terms…then demonstrate this to others in every word and action. Alleluia!
©2024 Debbie Robus
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