My husband's...no wait, he'd correct me ~"OUR" tractor was delivered yesterday. My husband has been waiting for months (ok truth be told, his entire life!) to own a tractor. He grew up with property and animals and wanted to raise a family on property with animals. One of the necessary "tools" a rancher must have is a good tractor. His dream came true as the New Holland dealer pulled into the drive yesterday. Now, I wasn't here but I would venture to guess my husband who tried to remain cool was much like a small child inside waiting to jump up in there and give it a whirl. That would have looked ridiculous to the fellas who delivered it ~ so he'd maintain his cool until they were gone and then "Smiley" as some call him... I'm certain with a smile bigger than many climbed up in there and just took it in.
When I arrived home he was inside reading the manual. I said "Is the tractor in the barn? Why aren't you out there sitting in it reading this?" He smirks, "It is just a tool, a tractor. It's not a big deal" (Yeah right!) As we talked about our evening plans I said to him we weren't going anywhere until I saw the beauty waiting in the barn. Oh so quick to pop up and put his shoes on to take me out and share our new "tool" with me. We arrived in the barn and he tells me to climb up in there. I get up in the very nice, seat which I might add has shocks which will prevent a lot of jarring when going up and over rough dirt. Everything so clean and pretty blue! My husband shows me how to turn it on, he is smiling (big). He shows me a few things with the lifting of the bucket, how to gear up and down etc. Me... of course found the coolest feature on the entire piece of equipment on my own - yes It has a horn!! Fun right! Honking for kids, at the dog, at my husband! Ha I'm gonna love this. Of course he finds this silliness as I mention "year right like I'll ever be up here to use the horn" My husband goes on to share with me his intention wasn't to get the trailer for it to be helpful to just him, but I needed to realize all of the things I too could do with him as he names a few. Hummmm Maybe I will get to use that horn!
As I lie in bed at the end of the night I thought about the tractor and my husband. And I thought about Jesus. How does this all fold together - wait for it!
It occurred to me, that sometimes we are all like my husband ~ he was SO EXCITED to get this new tractor, but didn't want to come off as ridiculous or child like because he was happy and the tractor bringing him joy. How often are people, (we) like this with Jesus? How often does Jesus come into your day and just turn it upside down with some kind of joy and we hesitate to share the WHY we are happy? We hesitate to share Jesus because we are afraid we will "appear" to be something which someone else my not understand. I know I've been guilty, and from time to time, I suspect I still am.
Jesus spoke to me ~ what my message was is this: Do not hide your joys, your blessings or your happy for fear someone might not get you. Isn't it better they not "get you" than not GET the message how amazing and incredible and capable and awesome God is!
It might just be a tractor to my husband, HOWEVER... he and I are both very much aware we did not come to have this tractor by accident! This tractor is very much a gift, a blessing and it wasn't our doing which brought it onto our property. We prayed God bless us at the right time with a tractor. In this case, God provided finances at a time when we needed them. God brought pieces together which we weren't aware of behind the scenes which lead to the tractor being "more" than what my husband prayed over. God blessed us in our faithfulness to him in seeking him in this. Is it silly to pray about a tractor? Clearly not.
This morning as I share this, think about it ~ are we hiding our joys, our happy, our blessings because someone might not "get us"? and if they don't get us... are we limiting our ability to share Jesus by hiding our joys? Hummm....
Dear Lord we pray you fill our hearts with your joy, your love, your happiness and your understanding of others. We seek that we are so filled with you, we can not contain the smiles which tug at our faces or the joy which overflows and pours out onto others. We ask Lord in circumstances where we hesitate, you fill us even fuller. Let our joys never offend or upset anyone and may it always be an encouragement to others to see YOU being GLORIFIED in all things. Be blessed friends!