I don't recall knowing where they came from; those tiny toy cars I pushed around the narrow streets of my little make believe village. In the welcome shade of an old orange tree in our back yard the sand was cool and damp after the daily rain and could easily be fashioned into avenues, tunnels, houses and walls.  There were always plenty of weeds to use for trees and shrubs in my imaginary hamlets. And cars...lots of cars; well, at least five or six.

In my child's mind it never occurred to me to wonder how a poor family had managed to acquire such treasures.  Were they premiums in some product purchased for the home? Had a kind relative passed them on to me when their own little boy had outgrown them? Perhaps a good week financially had coincided with a birthday. Oh; and what happened to them when childhood's days were done? I have no answers to any of these questions I might pose as an adult. I just cherish the memories of those wonderful hours of make believe in the luscious shade of that old orange tree. 

Reliving childhood's idyllic times makes one wonder: What about today's blessings? Where did they come from? Who provided them? How can they be preserved for tomorrow? Should they be passed along to the next generation?

The mature believer has likely come to the accurate conclusion that, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights..." (James 1:17) One can only hope that our awareness of our Source will lead to a better appreciation of what we have and a willingness to preserve and share it. 

Stewards all,

Pastor Rich Orrell