Because I Love You

Today's the day! The day we've all been waiting for. It's Joshua's birthday!
Over Christmas break, during one of our trips to Meijer for groceries, Joshua sighted what he thought would be the best gift he could ever receive. It was a box full of Pokemon cards, stickers, and a video. Joshua has gotten very excited about these cards recently. He has no idea how to really play the game. All he knows is he wants to collect as many cards as he can. His goal is to have 1,000 cards by age ten.
So when he saw this box full of cards, Joshua's eyes grew wide and he said he would just love to recieve it for his birthday. But he thought it was probably too expensive and didn't think I'd get it for him. He continued to remind me, though, that for his birthday he wanted Pokemon cards, Pokemon cards, or Pokemon cards. Nothing else would be necessary.
Personally, I don't see what the big deal is about these cards. Like I said, he doesn't play with them. He just collects them and yells in excitement, "Look! I got a 120!" "Oh, cool! It's a Legendary!" "Wow! This one is a holographic!" I guess I collected pointless things when I was nine years old, too.

So, as I was shopping last week, I knew it was time to pick Joshua's birthday gift. I went to where we'd seen the prized box of cards, and didn't see it at first. I saw something not quite as cool and was going to get it, but then I saw the box. I picked it up, looked at it, thought about spending that much money on (stupid) cards, thought about how much Joshua wanted it, imagined the smile on his face that would appear when he opened it, thought again about what I considered to be a waste of money, imagined the smile on his face again, and made a buying decision. I got the cards!
To be perfectly logical about it, I was willing to spend that much money for his birthday gift. I just would have chosen something more practical if it were for me. But it wasn't for me. I knew Joshua would be happy beyond measure with this gift. And bringing him joy was the thing on my mind. I bought the gift, not because it was practical, but because I love Joshua and I wanted to do something that would make him smile. (And he does have a great smile, don't you think?)
All week I've been looking forward to this morning and the look on Joshua's face when he would open his gift.

This gift decision reminded me of a conversation I had several months ago with a dear friend. We talked about the times we do things for our kids, just because we love them. The thing we do (letting them have a piece of candy, giving them a sticker they want so much, letting them sleep on the floor instead of in bed) may not seem important or special. It may not be a big deal for us to give. We may not understand why they are so excited. But we do it because we love them. And the joy they express brings joy to our own hearts and makes us want to do it again and again.

Do you suppose God might look at us in a similar way? How many times do we come to Him asking for things we really want, and he gives them to us just because He loves us? And when He has plans to give us our heart's desire, do you think He anticipates our joyful response, and that it brings Him joy when we respond with a grateful heart?
God supplies all our needs. I have seen Him do amazing things to provide for my family, sometimes when the situation seemed rather bleak. He's good that way. But I truly believe sometimes He gives us things not because they're important and we need them, but just because He loves us.