"God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place" So I don't know that I can totally agree with that, my child is gone, and I have nothing better in his place....ohhh you may say God didn't take John away from you, but He didn't stop John from dying either, and He could have. So what you think about that statement?? please share in your comments...
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box..
"Oh mommy please, Mom my. Can I have them? Please, Mom my, please?"
Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite."
"That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one.. Daddy loves you."
And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style.
As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"
Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here daddy, this is for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny ....
He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.
God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.
It's a neat story, and I would say that sometimes it is true. Like, for instance, if we're indeed holding on to things we should let go of...
ReplyDeleteBut, like all phrases that don't come directly from the Bible, they're flawed... I don't pretend to understand all of God's ways; but sometimes He just wants to be there for us, rather than to give us something. Hope that makes some semblance of sense.
by the way, I just noticed you recently passed an anniversary. (((HUGS))) and prayers to you guys, though they seem so inadequate.
"God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place."
ReplyDeleteI would ask first.. where is this premise found in scripture?
Maybe they are thinking of Romans 8:28. If so, then I think their interpretation would not be accurate. God works all things together for our good (see v. 29.. to conform us into the image of Christ) and for His glory.
I agree with you. My son is gone and he won't be replaced.
But, I am slowly learning to obey God when He says to give thanks in everything. I can't thank Him that my son is dead but I can thank Him for so many other things related to my son.. for his life, the 2 children and wife he left behind, that I was a mother to him, etc. 1 Thess. 5:18