Hello God. It's me, Mara

It’s amazing, Lord, the different gifts folks have. Take for instance this story about time: A lady goes into her house; as she steps across the threshold she hears the clock strike once. She sets down her packages, does a variety of things, hears the clock strike once, again; she loads the washing machine, tidies up the laundry room, hears one more strike of the clock. She rushes through a few more chores, jots a note to a friend and hears the clock strike once. She starts the dishwasher, does a few more tasks, grabs her purse and just as she slams the door behind her, she hears the clock strike once.

Now for the question: what time did she come home and what time did she leave?

My brother thought about that one for a moment and said, “Why, that’s an easy one; she came in at twelve o’clock and left at two o’clock.”

His buddies questioned him with, “How could that be? The lady did not hear twelve strikes nor did she hear the clock strike two.”

My brother smiled and said, “Of course not, but clocks do chime on the half-hour. She came in as the twelfth chime struck and upon leaving, shut the door before the second chime chimed two o’clock so she didn’t hear the second chime. It’s that simple.”

Remember, this was before calculators; when kids learned math, learned how to figure some things out in their heads, even so, then and now, not all kids are proficient in math.

You, Lord, have given each of us a variety of abilities, some as teachers, pastors, counselors, musicians, nurses, doctors, carpenters, cooks, or name any occupation; someone has a skill to do that job. Your Word speaks about diversity of gifts and the ability to do an assortment of jobs. Thank You for these many gifts, may we use them to Your glory.

Love, Mara