Robert Burns said it best. “The best laid plans of mice and men aft go awry.” It was two weeks until Christmas. She had carefully put the charge for her husband’s Christmas present on a credit card they seldom used. She ordered the present delivered to the neighbor’s house instead of her own. There was no way he was even going to see a box and guess the contents before Christmas. Then it happened. The husband received a telephone call. The voice on the other end said he was calling from the credit card company to check on possible fraudulent use of the card. Had they made a credit card purchase at Adventures Unlimited on a specific date? He said, “No.” The wife was listening from the other room. She had to tell her husband the charge was legitimate and he filled in the missing details. She was in tears. Her surprise was blown.
Giving nice things and surprising loved ones is such an enjoyable thing. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him….”
There it is—the promise of wonders we cannot imagine. I cannot imagine our Lord’s keen disappointment if we do not allow Him the joy of giving them to us. The process begins by our accepting His forgiveness.
Written in 2000