The Lettered Olive

By Michael Ten Eyck

One of my favorite blessings from our family vacation was a testimony my son relayed to me. We had

been enjoying a day of collecting sea shells at the beach and were finally beginning to be able to identify

which shells were rare and which were common. There was one particular type of shell we all really

liked and were seeking -- the Lettered Olive. Our son, Eli, really loved that type of shell and very much wanted to find one. He became very quiet for a while in concentration, searching the surf for his elusive treasure. In the meantime I found several very nice ones.

As we walked back to the room to clean up, Eli said, "Dad, I really wanted to find an Olive, so I began

to pray about it...but as I prayed I began to feel selfish about asking that I would find one. So, I prayed

that you would find one, and am glad that you did." I really was not sure how to respond to him. I try to

be sensitive and alert for "teachable moments" in my children's lives -- times to help them grow and

mature in the Lord and to apply God's word in their everyday living. I sure was proud of him, but I felt

that there was still a greater lesson to be learned.

The next morning we headed out to worship at a local church. As visitors, we were asked to fill out a

card and turn it in at the welcome center. My wife and I wanted to greet the preacher, so the kids went to

the welcome center to drop off the card. As they dropped the card off, the kids were invited to take a

welcome gift bag and reach into a basket for a shell. Sure enough, Eli reached in and pulled out a

beautiful, shiny Lettered Olive. He did a double-take and looked in the basket again. It was the only one

there. He walked over to us with his jaw dropped.

For the entire ride back to the room Eli testified that when we put God first, and pray for others,

he rewards us with good things. My wife and I smiled and listened. The sermon was good, the people

were friendly, but God was awesome. We had two church services that Sunday, the second one in

the car.

As I shared with my son, I want to share with you this point. God takes far better care of us than we can take care of ourselves. His instructions are simple.

Matt 6:28-34

28 All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of

looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29

but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30 "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen -

don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 31 What I'm trying to do here

is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. 32

People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and

how he works. 33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about

missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may

or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time

comes.

 (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights

reserved.)

Let me remind you of the words of my 10 year old "...when we put God first, and pray for others, God

rewards us with good things..."

Loving you all,

Michael

(Michael Ten Eyck is pastor of FCC in Pittsfield, Illinois.  This article was taken from the August 4, 2010 church newsletter)