Good Gifts

Dr. Rikki Permenter

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11

Last summer we had an event with huge slip-n-slide and grilled hot dogs for our youth and children at the church. We bought a huge roll of clear plastic sheeting, an economy size bottle of dish soap, and a huge inflatable swan. After we got it all set up and ran the hose over and the kids ran and slid for hours. They had such a good time - and even a few adults had a good time, too. During this event, I had some family in town that was staying with us for a few days. They have a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. When they first came out and saw the party the little boy said to me, “Aunt Rikki, you guys had this party, and everyone came just for us?” Not to burst his bubble, I said: “Yes, buddy this party is just for y’all to hang out and play!”

This little guy saw all the festivities and just knew we planned it all for him. In reality, we planned it for all the kids - so I wasn’t exactly lying. He knew his family loved him and assumed we would give him good gifts and plan good things for him. He just knew it… because he knows us. This got me thinking that sometimes we assume that things God has for us aren’t going to be fun or we aren’t going to like them. I often hear things like this, “I knew it was God’s plan because it was the last thing I would ever want to do.” Hear me, God has good gifts and plans for us. He loves us and wants to do what is in our best interest and what is for His glory.

We should approach God, our Father, with the same attitude as that little boy. We should expect to see the good things he has to give us and has planned for us. If I, who is sinful and selfish at my core, can give great stuff to a kid - how much greater is what God has in store? If I (Rikki) then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.