One day, an elderly woman visited the great American president, Abraham Lincoln. The woman had requested an audience with the president and was given appointment. When she arrived, she carried with her a covered basket.
The president greeted her and, expecting her to be bringing him another problem, asked, “My good woman, what is in the basket?”
She uncovered the basket and said, “Dear Mr President, I have brought you some fresh-baked cookies.” The president looked at her and said, “And is there anything else?”
She said, “No, sir, I have come here today not to ask any favour for myself or for anyone. I heard that you liked cookies and I came here to bring you this basket.”
Tears came to his eyes and he stood speechless.
Finally, he said, “Your thoughtful and unselfish deed greatly moves me. Thousands of people have come to my office since I became president, but you are the first one to come asking no favour for yourself or somebody else!”
This historical account can easily describe our relationship with God. If we were to sit in God’s place, we would find most people come to God when they want a favour for themselves or for someone else. People usually pray to God when they are in trouble and need help.
People usually come to God when they have physical problems such as sickness or an accident, financial problems, relationship problems, difficulties with their grades in school, or problem in their career. Few people sit in remembrance of God to show their appreciation and love for God without asking for a favour for themselves.
The best gift we can give to the Lord is to come to God out of love for God. What we do not realise is that God is like a loving parent. We should ask God for nothing but God.
Then we will find that we will receive far more than if we had come to God for a favour. Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us. God wants to bestow all blessings on us. But we come to God asking for small things.
When God grants our wish to solve one problem, we are still left with many other problems. By the following week that problem is forgotten and a new one arises. If we were to come to God with a basket of love, we would receive God’s grace in abundance. Being filled with God’s love, bliss, and joy would help us through many problems.
Knowing that God is with us gives us courage and fortitude to face life’s difficulties.