The Perfect Gift

"...'Pardon me, my lord, as surely as you live,

I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.

I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the Lord.

For his whole life, he will be given over to the Lord.'..."

~ 1 Samuel 1: 26-28

Hannah is a woman of the Bible whom I admire greatly. She not only believed the Lord would answer her prayer, she also accepted the gift God gave in response as just that - a gift. She prayed for a son and was granted a son. She enjoyed him for three short years, then offered him back to God. Her son did not return home with her from the temple. He was God's for the rest of his life. Rather, Hannah understood that her son had always belonged to God. He was never truly hers to keep.

This is true of every person in our lives, even those who seem as though they belong to us: our children, parents, siblings. We share blood, we share a history, we share parts of our lives with one another on a very intimate level, but we never actually belong to each other. We all belong to God.

When I was young, I thought of nothing but the present moment and the joy I had with my family. Then my siblings and I grew and moved, and friends filled the gaps left behind. I still went "home for the holidays" and life felt whole again when I was there. When I moved back in with my parents to help out, I truly felt complete. My life had purpose every minute of every day and night as I was focused on their care and comfort. Every moment we spent together was an answered prayer.

Mom and I are grateful to know Dad is finally at peace; however, we miss him like crazy. I try to remind myself that Dad never belonged to us. Yes, he was entrusted to our care and he was with us three years longer than doctors thought he would be, and all that was a gift from God. It is our turn to give him back to the Lord, having done all we could to get him ready for Heaven. Letting go it not easy. God, be our strength!

Lord, like Hannah, may I trust you to always hear my cry, to answer my need for comfort and joy, and to return to you, with gratitude, the gifts you give me, when it is time. Amen.

Taking Dad out last summer for freshly made ice cream at the dairy farm.