God's Love and a bottle of 7-Up

I have a vivid childhood memory involving a bottle of 7-up.  I was a shy 5 year-old at the time and  Mama took me along to her Woman's Missionary Union meeting held in the home of one of the members.  When we got there the living room was already full of women seated in chairs pulled together in a large circle.  Everybody was visiting and laughing and having fun.  Mama joined them and I sat next to her in a wooden dining room chair near the coffee table.  

 I always loved sitting in the background and listening to Mama's friends talk.  That night was no exception and I smiled as I listened to these friends share their lives and laugh as they sipped coffee.  But, then the nice lady who was the hostess looked down at me with a smile and said, "Debbie, wouldn't you like a bottle of 7-up to drink?  I bet you're thirsty!"

At that moment I wanted a cold bottle of sparkly 7-up more than anything else in the world!  Some of Mama's friends looked over at me at me probably thinking I'd jump at the chance.   But I felt put on the spot...so I just shook my head and said, "No, thank you."  That was the night I learned what "regret" felt like.  All I could think about was how wonderful it would be to have my very own tall green bottle of 7-up!  And the only person keeping me from it...was ME...because I was afraid to draw attention to myself!

A few minutes...that seemed like hours...later, the hostess sat a bottle of 7-up on the coffee table and said, "I'll just sit this here in case you change your mind."  Even then, with this miraculous 2nd chance...it took me a while to gather up my courage...hop down out of my chair... and claim that "pause that refreshes."  It was so-o-o-o-o-o good!!

God's love is like that.  He graciously offers his love and forgiveness to each of us just because he knows we need it.  It's all there...patiently waiting...refreshing love...if we just reach beyond our fears and claim it with our heart.  Then...we don't have to live our lives sitting in the background.  We can live as part of the family...and with no regrets can smile and say, "God is so-o-o-o-o-o-o good!

Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."--John 4:10 The Message Bible

Comments

[christy]

I love this one!