loaves and fishes

A cleaning woman where I worked once gave me a deep purple glass-blown single-stemmed flower that had the edge of one petal broken off.  I thought it was beautiful, and kept it in a vase on my desk until I retired.  I still have that flower, and whenever I see it, it still reminds me of her love and friendship, and of the joy with which she gave me that flower.  I knew it was the best she had to give, and in my eyes, it spoke volumes of her love for me.

What we have to offer God is like that flawed flower--broken, perhaps fished out of a trash can (in the eyes of the world, fit only to be thrown away).  But it is the best we have to give, and in His eyes, our gift is eternally beautiful because it is offered to Him in love. 

The Littlest Angel, a classic book for children (and for adults) tells of a newly-arrived-in-heaven small boy who misses the box hidden under his bed back home---a box containing a butterfly, a frog, and a baseball glove, a rock he found one day, and other small treasures.  He asks the head angel if he might have that box, and his wish is granted.  When it comes time for the birth of Jesus on earth, all the angelic choir prepare their best gifts for the celebration.  The littlest angel shyly offers his box of treasures to the new-born child.  Of all the gifts of heaven, it is his gift alone that is chosen to be illumined forever as the Star of Bethlehem. 

That book is a charming tale, but once a real boy on earth offered Jesus a basket containing two fish and five loaves, and his small gift fed 5000 men, women, and children.  There is, in truth, no telling what God will do with our very small gifts to Him.