I have learned that God's greatest gifts are the ones that take us completely by surprise -- the ones we didn't ask for, haven't planned for, and certainly don't deserve.
I was in junior high when Mom told me she was expecting another baby. Junior high, which means I had two siblings in high school, and my younger brother was completing elementary school.
I still remember the shocked look on my mother's face as she picked me up from school that afternoon. If I remember correctly, that shocked look didn't go away for another three years.
Mom and Dad had wanted four kids. They had planned for four kids. Mom said that she had prayed for four children for as long as she could remember; she had been very specific in her prayers and asked for two girls and two boys. Four -- with no middle child -- girl, boy, girl, boy, and God had been faithful. For ten years, she enjoyed the family that SHE had planned.
Then, God added His finishing touch.
We named him, Matthew, which means "gift of God."
Almost 31 years later, I am convinced that "Matthew" was his rightful name, appointed to him by God himself, for Matthew has proven to be the most generous, precious gift imaginable.
He was four years old when I left for college. When I got to my dorm and started unpacking my boxes and bags, I found something of Matthew's in every box and every bag. Whether it was one of his favorite stuffed animals, a picture that he had colored with the words, "Nonny, I love you. Matt," printed in four-year old all caps, or one of his beloved G.I. Joe action figures, Matthew had placed a part of himself in every box and bag.
That is the essence of who Matthew is. He is a giver, and he gives generously. If he sees a need, he does whatever he can to meet that need.
So it was no surprise that the time my car broke down and disrupted my entire life, that Matthew came to my rescue. He not only helped me pay for the unexpected expense of replacing the engine, but he got me a rental car which I drove for more than a month. When I asked him, how much I owed him so I could pay him back, he said, "Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal." It was a humongous deal. I'm so thankful for the gift of Matthew.
Last summer, when the temperatures were hitting the triple digits, our air conditioner went out. Matt drove three hours on one of his few days off to come to our rescue. When I heard that he was covered in chiggers the next day, and I apologized for his misery, he responded, "Don't worry about it. It's no big deal." I saw a picture of his foot; it was covered! It was a humongous deal.
He reminds me so much of my dad and my Heavenly Father too. His generosity is a reflection of who God is. . . The giver of all good things. I'm convinced God gifted us with Matthew because He knew exactly what we needed to make our family complete, the encore performance, the Master's touch; the generous gift of God, one that Mom and Dad didn't plan, but that God perfectly planned and executed.
For the best surprise ever, for the gift that keeps on giving, for the encore performance, and everything he has added to the Stone family, my heart overflows with gratitude.
I was in junior high when Mom told me she was expecting another baby. Junior high, which means I had two siblings in high school, and my younger brother was completing elementary school.
I still remember the shocked look on my mother's face as she picked me up from school that afternoon. If I remember correctly, that shocked look didn't go away for another three years.
Mom and Dad had wanted four kids. They had planned for four kids. Mom said that she had prayed for four children for as long as she could remember; she had been very specific in her prayers and asked for two girls and two boys. Four -- with no middle child -- girl, boy, girl, boy, and God had been faithful. For ten years, she enjoyed the family that SHE had planned.
Then, God added His finishing touch.
We named him, Matthew, which means "gift of God."
Almost 31 years later, I am convinced that "Matthew" was his rightful name, appointed to him by God himself, for Matthew has proven to be the most generous, precious gift imaginable.
He was four years old when I left for college. When I got to my dorm and started unpacking my boxes and bags, I found something of Matthew's in every box and every bag. Whether it was one of his favorite stuffed animals, a picture that he had colored with the words, "Nonny, I love you. Matt," printed in four-year old all caps, or one of his beloved G.I. Joe action figures, Matthew had placed a part of himself in every box and bag.
That is the essence of who Matthew is. He is a giver, and he gives generously. If he sees a need, he does whatever he can to meet that need.
So it was no surprise that the time my car broke down and disrupted my entire life, that Matthew came to my rescue. He not only helped me pay for the unexpected expense of replacing the engine, but he got me a rental car which I drove for more than a month. When I asked him, how much I owed him so I could pay him back, he said, "Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal." It was a humongous deal. I'm so thankful for the gift of Matthew.
Last summer, when the temperatures were hitting the triple digits, our air conditioner went out. Matt drove three hours on one of his few days off to come to our rescue. When I heard that he was covered in chiggers the next day, and I apologized for his misery, he responded, "Don't worry about it. It's no big deal." I saw a picture of his foot; it was covered! It was a humongous deal.
He reminds me so much of my dad and my Heavenly Father too. His generosity is a reflection of who God is. . . The giver of all good things. I'm convinced God gifted us with Matthew because He knew exactly what we needed to make our family complete, the encore performance, the Master's touch; the generous gift of God, one that Mom and Dad didn't plan, but that God perfectly planned and executed.
For the best surprise ever, for the gift that keeps on giving, for the encore performance, and everything he has added to the Stone family, my heart overflows with gratitude.
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