Blogaversary Week! (Day 5!)

Woo-hoo! Happy Friday! You may or may not know I’ve been celebrating my blogaversary all week by repeating some of my favorite posts from the previous year. All comments for the entire week up until midnight tonight (Eastern time) are being placed in a drawing for my Giveaway pictured at the end of today’s post! The drawing will be tomorrow morning!

The post I’m sharing today was originally published in April of last year.

Worth the Wait
I’ve wanted one for years. I mean seriously…years! It was one of those silly wants I had never shared with anyone, because for me personally, it always seemed a bit extravagant. Upon occasion, I’d see them in the department store circulars, but even on “sale,” the price was too high. Maybe someday, I’d think. While Christmas shopping a couple of years ago, I saw a man (with two little ones in tow) buying one for his wife. The oldest, a little girl, was giddy with excitement. She could hardly hold still as he waited to pay. I remember she kept saying to her Daddy, "Mommy’s going to be SOOOOO HAPPY!!!" I had to admit as I watched her -- I was even excited for her Mommy, because on Christmas morning, she’d be opening a beautiful, brand new, sparkling white Kitchen Aid mixer.

Haven’t we all had things we wanted (sometimes for a long time), but the cost was too high? We eventually let it go and move on, only to find it later, on sale, or through any manner of circumstances, maybe even falling into our lap…free?

A friend of mine recently asked me…"Hey, do you do much baking?" I told her, "At this time of year…not too much…why?" "Just wondering," she said "I have a Kitchen Aid mixer that I received as a gift a while back and I’ve never used it. It’s just taking up space and I’d love to find someone who might want it." I felt my stomach do a little flip. I said, "How much are you asking for it?" She said, "Nothing, it was a gift." I said, "Are you kidding me? Why not sell it?" She wouldn’t hear of it. I continued, "You could list it on e-bay…put it in a yard sale…sell it in the classifieds. Do you know how much that’s worth!?" She was well aware of its worth, but because it hadn’t cost her anything, she refused to sell it. Instead, she wanted to give it, and she was asking me! When I told her I didn’t feel comfortable accepting something so costly, she just laughed and said "Oh c’mon…don’t be silly! I’d love for you to have it." We hadn’t talked about it for a few days but sure enough, this afternoon our doorbell rang, and there she stood with that beautiful, nearly new, sparkling white Kitchen Aid mixer. As soon as she placed it in my arms, she was quickly on her way (no doubt in an effort to escape before I tried to pay her something for it). Unbelievable.

This isn’t the first time God has provided something I’ve long desired. He’s provided many, both great and small, and I never fail to marvel at the means by which he does it. The joy I feel when God fulfills a secret longing of my heart, reminds me of the very personal nature of His love. And that never ceases to amaze me. It could be for this reason that I so enjoy giving gifts to others, particularly when the “nudge” to do so isn’t my own. = )

Now, when I use that mixer, instead of feeling guilty or indulgent for buying or asking for it, I’ll smile and think of Him and how He’s blessed me once again -- this time through the kindness of a friend. And like so many other "gifts" He’s provided to me, I’ll know…it was worth the wait.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. ~ James 1:17 (NASB)

Well, speaking of Gifts and things being “Worth the Wait…” Here’s my Giveaway! Remember, all comments count for this week up until midnight tonight! Stop by tomorrow to see who won! (Hope it’s you!)

* Give us this Day our Daily Bread wooden sign from Bittersweet Farm
* Cup which reads "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phillipians 4:13
* Embroidered and beaded dish towel
* Rose colored journal and
* DVD (Though None Go with Me by Jerry Jenkins)

(There will also be some additional little goodies tucked in the box that will remain a surprise for the recipient. Can't wait to see who wins!) = )