After putting my car in park at the lot of a well-known drug store, I grabbed a few pieces of crumpled papers from the floor of my vehicle. My intent was to throw the papers into the garbage can outside the store’s front entrance. As I tossed the trash in the can, I noticed a flawless blossom wrapped in clear cellophane lying near the top of the can. Wondering who would throw away an unblemished flower, I peered a little closer into the can. It was filled to the top with discarded but undamaged wrapped packages of lovely looking blooms. Frugality being my middle name and not being ashamed to dumpster dive, I began to take each of the packages out of the can perplexed by the unnecessary waste. Thrilled, I set the flowers in the trunk of my car, shopped at the store, and then quickly drove home to unwrap the packages. When the blooms were put together, they made a gorgeous bouquet. Although the arrangement dressed up my table for just a short time, it made a lasting impression on me. That delightful bouquet reminded me not to discard my gifts and prompted me to have these thoughts: May I not waste the unique gifts and abilities God has graciously given me. Instead, may I use them to make the my little corner of the world a bit more beautiful.
Giving God, help me to be a good steward of the gifts you have granted me. Amen.