On May 13th, 2009 I bought a pink hippo lovie for Mackenzie. Its a very soft and small blanket that has a hippo on it. I purchased it the day before I went to the hospital for her delivery. That day I had just finished with my longer than usual doctor’s appointment. Dr. White, my OB, had decided then that we would enduce the next day due to serious health concerns. It was three weeks and a day ahead of the due date.
That afternoon, I had an unusual peace as I took a few minutes to myself and window shopped at my favorite little baby store downtown. But, I made the small blanket purchase as a confidence booster : tomorrow I would be holding a tiny little person who would need it.
And, by God’s gracious hand the next day I delivered a beautiful baby girl, Mackenzie Georgia Day. What a gift from God she is in our lives. Whenever I see the little hippo blanket it seems to be a reflection of His goodness in my life.
As I watch the news coverage from Haiti I can’t help but wonder why there is so much goodness in my life? I know that I am truly blessed beyond measure but it is really accented this week whenever I watch the news. Why are the people of Haiti suffering so much – lives destroyed, lost loved ones, homes in shambles? And me, I am here with so much – there isn’t a need that can’t be met, my loved ones are here with me, in my cozy house with a warm dinner in the oven. I struggle to understand God’s grace.
A very simplistic description of God’s grace is “God giving me something I don’t deserve.” I learned that definition when I was young, but I know now that its true of almost everything in my life. I deserve none of it… including His salvation.
Recently I heard someone pray that God would have mercy on the people of Haiti… but today as I think about God and His goodness – I have been praying that He would be gracious. Its my prayer that He would, in love reach down, and be the miracle working God that He is. I have asked God to move barriers so that His people would be able to meet the material needs of the Haitian people. And I have asked that one day they might actually know His love. My prayer is that they will be recipients of His grace, just as I have been.
From Titus 3:
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”
May we who have been shown God’s grace be quick to participate in His work – showing God’s goodness to the people of Haiti. This will be my prayer in the coming weeks, when I’m reminded of His loving kindness in my own life. When I see the pink hippo in my daughter’s crib.
daily portion 