Dr. Doug Hood’s wife, Grace Cameron Hood, B.C.E, wrote the following meditation.
“…you are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I love you.” Isaiah 43:4a (Common English Bible)
The Holly House is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach. Women get together each week to change the world. They make incredible crafts, do service projects, socialize, eat together, and enjoy one another. They have formed a support system based on fun, faith, and creativity. Everyone is welcomed and included. They are a microcosm of what the church strives to be.
Each year, Holly House participates in a time-honored and universal ministry of churches everywhere. They sponsor a rummage sale. The proceeds of the sale go to the ministry of the church. This is how it works. If you have something that you do not need or want or can’t use anymore, you donate it to the church. The women sort everything. This is a time-consuming and tedious job. Imagine sorting hundreds of donated shirts according to size and price. When the sale happens, the community comes in droves. Someone might see an item and realize that they want it, they need it, or they have a use for it. They pay for it. This is a wonderful system. What becomes one person’s discard, trash, or burden becomes the next person’s treasure. This is recycling at its very best!
What does this have to do with a book on gratitude? One day, I was looking through a table of delicate china teacups at the Holly House that had been donated. I grew up with those multi-color aluminum tumblers (which are now collector’s items), white mismatched mugs, and ‘unbreakable’ Corelle cups. I love china teacups. As I studied the intricate and colorful tea cups, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude for what I have. I am grateful for many things. I inherited a lovely set of tea cups decorated with beautiful violets from my grandmother. They are gorgeous. What’s more, I have the entire set, which includes plates, serving bowls, miniature salt and pepper shakers, a matching sugar and creamer set, and finally, small ashtrays for the bridge games my grandmother would host. What I have is more than I wanted. It is more than I thought I needed.
My gratitude goes beyond what I have. It speaks to who our God is. God wants us to have more than we can imagine. What God gives us might not be riches or things. God offers us a sense of worth that comes from who God says we are. We are not unwanted, unneeded, or a burden. I am grateful that with God, we are each precious and valued. That is one important thing to remember about God. All of us are wanted and loved. There is no one on earth that God discards, donates, or sells. We are not a burden that is carried around or hidden away in an attic or basement when interest has died. None of us are chosen as second best. We all have immense value in God’s eyes. We are all precious and a treasure to God. There is more. When we look at people around us, we need to remember that God values them! We need to treat people around us as if they were precious to God. This changes how we look at the world. As we see the world through the eyes of gratitude, our perspective changes and creates the community that God intended. One of love, acceptance, inclusivity, and care.
Joy,
Nurture Faith with Dr. Doug Hood 