Thought for the Day

Recently I was reminded, very rudely, that I was not writing enough lately...
that I have 'more pictures' than words....
Could be 'they' were right....just possibly....not saying for sure but it is possible there is a 'grain of truth' there!
In any event I have a point to make....that involves pictures and words...
On Matt's birthday I gave him the gift of a 'family photo show' which took about 30 hours of preparation, scanning, music, work etc. The finished product was a 10 min. DVD celebration. Ashley's Mom, Hope, made the comment "You just have too much time on your hands, Faith, that just takes too much time!"
I had to laugh because she is so right....not the part about 'time on hands' but when I put a $ sign on the work....say (low estimate)roughly $20. per hour graphic design etc., the time involved amounted to around $600.00 of labor involved in that simple 10 min. gift....
Why would anyone in their right mind give such valuable time away?
.......Let me give you a little story that illustrates this.....
A few years ago a missionary friend spent 12 years on an island in the Pacific teaching, living and loving the people around her...
As she prepared to leave and return to the states for good, the people presented her with homemade gifts of appreciation....one of the last gifts she received was from a small 8 yr. old boy who quietly gave her a sea shell....
Much to their astonishment she gasped in surprise saying....'Oh my goodness, this is one of the unique shells from the very end of the island....it would have taken you two days to walk there and back for this shell...."
The little boy looked lovingly into her face and said, " Long walk...part of gift."

Now I ask you....how many 'sea shell' gifts do you have in your home?
How many family and friends spend their entire lives giving 'sea shell' gifts?
Home made quilts and pictures from Granny Baxter.....Nena/Lynn time 'given' for family , church prayer phone line , alter work, Aunt Shyrl love and care etc.,
Pops as family consultant for all things from cars, houses, Grand Cypress planning and implementing for 25 years. etc., home cooked meals by various family members, hours spent on children's church bus and every thing needed in community by Chuck, Terry and family, serving our country in the military....... Cindy donating her personal and professional gifts to everyone from migrant workers to people in her life who are in need of comfort and love their last days on earth, Chad using his technical and creative gifts in family projects to include Eden's Passion....these are just a few examples and the list goes on and on...
Thank you all.....for the gifts that are ...priceless....that money can not buy...that are sometimes known only.....to the heart of God!