GAG

GAG--no not in the literal sense, but in the "abbreviated" sense, as in "Give A Gift." If you haven't yet, you will quickly learn that NOH liberally uses our own shorthand, which we think everyone around us understands.

Give-A-Gift is an event we run annually at various sites--this year in 6 communities. We take donations of new toys and then set up "pseudo" stores so parents can come thru and choose gifts for each of their children. You can read more about this year's event at www.networkofhope.org

Now you may think GAG is just an NOH outreach to help families in need, which it is. But the part you don't know is, it's really an opportunity for me to dig out that mustard seed of faith I seem to keep losing in the corner of my pocket and "squeeze" it for dear life. I know in the larger sense, it's not about me (yes, I DO realize that). However, through this, and just about every event I've coordinated, God continues to build my faith. You'd think I'd at least have graduated to a lima-bean portion by now, but it doesn't always feel like it.

Why, you may ask, is it such a faith-building experience for me? Let me enlighten you to the plight of this "I-like-to-have-all-the-ducks-in-a-row-AHEAD-of-time" event planner. In the time preceding the event, a conversation could very well go something like this:

Q: So, how many toys do you need for this Give-A-Gift?
A: About 3-4 per kid, but I can't tell you exactly until we know how many kids will be shopped for.

Q: Oh. How many kids are registered?
A: Well, we won't really know that until about 4 hours (okay, I'm exaggerating) 4 days before the event, but at least 500.

Q: Okay....well, how many toys do you have so far?
A: Oh, we won't really have a count until about 2 hours (okay, I'm exaggerating) 2 days before the event.

......AND SO ON!

So I dig out that seed, having somehow pushed it into my pocket again, and I settle in for the battle of my mind against my spirit. Then I begin "preparing" with just some of what I DO know ahead of time:

• God is faithful
• He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (what's a few toys?)
• He tells us to give to those in need, so He'll make it possible
• God's timing is perfect (mine, ahem, is irrelevant)
• He is omniscient; He knows
• He is my source; my peace; my strength; my counselor; my ever-present help
• God feeds sparrows and clothes the fields; how much more will He do for His children?
• God does not rely on me, rather I on Him
• He is the lifter of my head
• Nothing is too difficult for God

And just when I think my lack of faith might want to make God really gag, I realize instead, that He is Giving A Gift to me--the gift of faith.

Maybe, just maybe, my mustard seed is enough. I can't imagine what a lima bean would bring!