Rays of Light

Spoiling and pampering my husband happens to be one of my favorite pastimes. I suppose that is why I like Father’s Day so much. Through the years, my children and I have put a lot of creative energy into making this day an absolutely unique and special one. We have been blessed with an incredibly awesome husband/father and we never tire of finding ways to show him how very much we appreciate him.

This year, however, Father’s Day just snuck-up on us all and took us by surprise. By the time I realized what day it was, there was no time to plan anything. So we splurged on some mouth-watering BBQ brisket with all the fixings and some warm berry pie alamode for desert, and then relaxed. It turned out to be a great Father’s Day; sometimes the greatest days are those framed in simplicity.

There had been no time to make or buy any meaningful gifts. My husband wasn’t the least bit disappointed though. He considers each day spent with his family to be gift enough (honestly!). And like me, he much prefers giving gifts than receiving them anyway.

This brings me to the reason for today’s post. On a day when my husband had every right to expect a gift, he was busy giving one instead. Knowing that a recently widowed neighbor was having trouble with blocked gutters, he had gone over to clean them for her.

She was relieved, but frankly admitted that she had no money to pay him. He explained that he was there to help and that money was not desired. She then offered some home-made jelly so that she could at least pay him for his generosity in some way.

My husband politely accepted but insisted that the jelly, as delicious as it is, was not necessary. He looked her sweetly in the eye and said, “My Lord told me: This is love, to take care of the widows and the orphans” (James 1:27). The grateful widow pensively nodded and thanked him.

I could have spent months planning the perfect gift but it would not have been anywhere near as wonderful as the gift that he received from the Lord today, the opportunity to help someone in need.

Enough said.