3. PARENTAL GENEROSITY . . . .

A FRIEND STOOD, a few years ago, in a native village in the South Pacific... watching the children play. It occured to him those children would very seldom hear the words, "Don't touch that! Leave it alone! Be careful!" He said their homes were simple, consisting of earth floors, thatched roofs, and mats that rolled down to serve as walls at night.

IN CONTRAST TO WHAT HE SAW... our modern homes are stuffed with expensive and fragile furnishings and appliances that represent a minefield of potential rejection... and rebuke... for inquisitive toddlers. How many mothers have exploded in anger at a child who has damaged a treasured object of great expense or sentimental value? Children are constantly reminded of the importance of things, their value, and how to care for them. Very few times do they hear the simple words, "I LOVE YOU."

A REPETITIOUS AND DESTRUCTIVE CHANT is working its way into the subconscious minds of our children. "Things are more important than me! Things are more important than me!" What are we to do? Abandon our modern homes? Obviously not. But we do need to realize that our concept of God's generosity may have been crippled by our childhood experience.

THE TRUTH IS THAT GOD is innately Generous. Creation shows an extravagance of color... complexity... and design... that goes far beyond simple functional value. At this moment, high in the Italian Alps, a tiny white flower glistens in the sunlight. It has never been seen by human eye in all if its seasons of bloom. It is not an essential part of the food chain. It was created by God in the hope that one day a son of Adam, or daughter of Eve, might glance at it and be blessed by its beauty.

THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATION OF GOD'S FATHER HEART seems to come with His attention to the details of our life. He surprises us with those extra things... those little pleasures and treasures that only a father would know we yearn for. God is not stingy, possessive, or materialistic. We use people to get things... He uses things to bless people. The Psalmist said,

"TRUST IN THE LORD AND DO GOOD... DWELL IN THE LAND AND CULTIVATE FAITHFULNESS. DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD... AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART. COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD, TRUST ALSO IN HIM... AND HE WILL DO IT" Psalms 37:3-5).