Boomerangs

"We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth." 3 John 8

Not long ago, a girlfriend of mine, who is especially generous, presented me with a bag. It had pretty tissue in it and proclaimed on the front, "laugh!". Enclosed in the bag was a gift. It was not a huge gift, but it was a meaningful one. How beautiful, my friend knows me well enough to pick up some special things just for me. As she shops or runs errands for her precious family, she remembers me, picking up and item here or there to bless my days. She called the bag..."Our Boomerang Bag", wherein we place special gifts to bless the other. We trade the bag back and forth. Such an amazing tradition, I feel fortunate to be part of an incredibly hospitable kindess.

With our boomerang bag being a conscious effort of exhibiting great love for a friend, I think of all the events that clearly show us our Heavenly Boomerangs. We may hear folks conveniently say, "Wow, that was a coincidence." But, I strongly hold fast to the truth and the hope of God's providence rather than subscribe to the notion of coincidences.

Four years ago, God set in motion a chain reaction of loving gestures that did not see the boundaries of time, finances or location. My husband and I needed a friend to accompany my husband to China to receive the magnificent gift of our younger daughter. My girlfriend, Gerry, understood well our need and she and her husband, Jim prayed about "who" would make the stressful trip. Her husband, never having met us, offered without hesitation. We were so grateful! We came to learn that Jim's scheduled vacation time fell directly over the time of our trip. That is no coincidence...it is none other than the mighty hand of God.

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.Hebrews 13:2

This year, Gerry and Jim's daughter and son-in-law have had the joy of becoming parents, mixed with the fear and reality of special needs their son was born with. Friends from our China travel group joined us in praying for Jim's entire family. One friend even worked with me to try to surprise the young couple with plane tickets for a trip they are taking to have a procedure done. We learned quickly that the Lord did not want us to take care of the tickets. He did, however, orchestrate a way we could help. That same friend has a dear friend who lives very close to the hospital performing the procedure. This gentleman and his wife offered, without pause, to pick up our friends, guide them to their hotel and bring them dinner. Boomerang...so often a kindess we wish to extend bounces out there, only to scoop up a blessing and bring it carefully home. If we are unwilling to make our needs known or if we keep hidden that which others require, we may miss the gift of boomerang blessings.

"Freely you have received. Freely you have given. "

How many of us have been blessed only to return the blessing, without even thinking? I pray I boomerrang in the daily of everyday life. God calls us to that kind of love. I learned that important truth when we accepted the unthinkable, serendiptious response of a virtual stranger to travel around the world. That man, now, a treasured friend, entertained angels. Sometimes, we will do the entertaining and sometimes we will be entertained. It is the nature and very essence of the boomerang blessing. It may be as simple as a phone call or as complex as clearing a calendar to meet the needs of another. Regardless, when God speaks to our hearts boldly to bless and be blessed, He knows our need to experience both. Created in His likeness, each moment should be an attempt to live out His Word in our relationships.

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." 2 Corinthians 9:12