She was irritated. I got the distinct impression that I was a big pain to her and she really didn’t want to be bothered to help me.  Never mind that her job as receptionist was to help each person who came in the door.  

It was easy to be offended and criticize her.  Why didn’t she want to help me solve my problem?  Why did she keep repeating that it’s unlikely my problem could be solved? Why did she give an excuse to not do anything I asked?  Why was she so negative?! 

A few days later, I experienced the exact opposite.  This receptionist was cheerful, kind, and welcoming.   She had done the necessary paperwork before I arrived. It was clear that she was eager to help, loved people, and therefore enjoyed her job.  I knew she would do anything I needed.  Her smile and banter lit up the waiting area.  

Naturally, I identified with the second receptionist.  I would never act like the first one.  Unless . . . I was disappointed in someone’s performance, or I was comparing my work load to someone with a lighter one, or I was tired or hurting.  Lo and behold the very next evening I was called upon to do something that I was too tired to do.  I was counting on being served and now I had to serve.  I had a bunch of excuses why I shouldn’t have to do it.  My back hurts, I have other chores, I don’t have the needed things to complete the task, I don’t have time, I shouldn’t have to change my plans,  I was counting on a different outcome.  Yikes!  I was definitely acting like that grouchy receptionist!  Instead of caring about the needs of others, I was concerned about my own needs.  Instead of welcoming the opportunity to serve someone else, I begrudged serving.  I was being so stingy with my time and effort instead of generously pouring it out.  I was being negative and ugly.  I dutifully, but not wholeheartedly, launched into the project and immediately botched the first step making two lovely messes.  Wake up call!  Get your attitude straightened out.  I remembered the relief and joy when I was greeted by that happy receptionist and the rejection I felt from the grouchy one.  I want people to be able to approach me with confidence that I want to help them, not dread that I’m being forced to help and will do the absolute minimum to get by.  Let my service be willing, and cheerful, and generous.

I thought of the relief I had felt the day before when our son, who is already gifting us the trip of a lifetime, let us know he would be packing food for all of us for the first day of travel. Wow!  Talk about giving above and beyond!  Why would he willingly take upon himself another job when he already has so much to prepare for his wedding trip?!  And just to lavish even more care on us, he whets our appetite with the promise of  a “gourmet snack pack”!   I felt ashamed to think of his generosity and my own grudging and miserly reaction to serving.  His generosity made me want to change my attitude.

When I started thinking about generous giving, I wondered why I sometimes approach God as if he’s an unwilling giver.  Somewhere deep down in my wrong thinking, I picture myself approaching a powerful, but miserly being seated behind a big desk who  grudgingly hands out tidbits.  But that is earthly thinking based on human experience.  The truth is that God is lavish, other-worldly generous beyond our conception.  He is eager to see us come into his throne room and ask for his aid.  He wants to shower us with all good things.  His nature is over-the-top giving because he has the pure motivation of love and unlimited power and resources to show it.  

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”  Ephesians 3:20

Now don’t get me wrong.  I’m not suggesting we demand that God  make us wealthy and well to prove he loves us.  In this world, we will experience the same pain that sin has caused all of mankind.  We may be sick, poor, heartbroken, or lonely just like the rest of the human race.  But we have a God who willingly carries us close to his heart and speaks tenderly to us as he brings us to his home where he will make everything better.  Along the way, he’ll show us marvelous things that we never could have known on our own.  

“‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”  Exodus 19:4

“There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went …”.Moses in Deuteronomy 1:31

“Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?   No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”  Romans 8:35,37

Things to Remember

God’s ears are always open to our cries

“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”  Ephesians 3:12

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”  Hebrews 4:16 

God delights to show us his power

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:3

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’  Jeremiah 33:3

God is always a generous giver

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.  James 1:17

God willingly gives us good gifts

 “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.  And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”  1 John 5:14-15

God is for us, not against us

“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”  Romans 8:31

God invites us to ask

“…you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.  And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure…Come close to God and he will come close to you.”  James 4:2-3,8

“And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.”  I John 3:22