Don't Leave God's Gifts of Joy Unopened

Dr. Gerald Mann, founding pastor of Riverbend Church in Austin Texas, tells how he and his wife Lois couldn’t afford a honeymoon trip when they were married.  Six years later, because of free passes he received from the airline he worked for at that time, he and Lois took a trip to Hawaii.  One evening they were walking down Waikiki Beach, hand in hand, when they came upon a luau in progress.  The torches were burning, the traditional foods filled the table and a live band played music.  Lois said to Gerald, Let’s dance.  For whatever reason, embarrassment or inhibition, he said he’d rather not. 

          Many years later, Lois became very sick.  The doctors told her that she wouldn’t live much longer.  As she and Gerald talked one day, reflecting on the life they’d shared, he asked her a question, Lois, do you have any regrets? 

Of course I do, she answered.  Everyone has regrets.  If they say they don’t, they are lying. 

What is you main regret, he asked. 

That we didn't dance on the beach.

          This story is about much more than dancing.  It’s about living.  It’s about experiencing God-given moments of joy instead of blindly or fearfully letting them pass by.  It’s about opening the gifts of joy God sends you instead of leaving them unopened. 

          Every sunrise…every hug from a child…every song…every surprise meeting with a friend…every verse of scripture that seems to have my name on it…each one is a gift of joy that God has sent me.  He sends them into my life so that I might live in the spirit of Psalm 92:4,

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

          I haven’t danced on enough beaches.  I've missed a thousand of those moments, but I don’t want to miss another one.  I want to see and receive and live in celebration of God’s gifts of joy.