Speaking of a horse’s mouth…I remembered an ol’ saying that my mom used to say, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!” In other words, don’t look at the fault within something that has been given to you as a blessing. If you have been given a gift, be thankful. This old saying supposedly originated in the 4th century, when the practice of determining a horse’s age and health could be identified by looking in their mouth, at their teeth. It was considered rude and ungrateful to question the value of the gifted horse!
I am being brutally honest here. I just looked a gift horse in the mouth. I was moping around my house with my own little pity party, when suddenly, I was made keenly aware of my fault and guilt.
The home was quiet—eerily quiet, and I did not like it. You see, my oldest daughter had come to visit for an extended stay with her 105-pound, yellow lab, Nickie. They spent a couple months with us over the holidays as Denver became her home-base for work for a bit. I loved the extra time together, family meals, and great conversations! I will admit, Nickie grew on me and captured my heart too, despite the added yellow dog hair. It was worth it to have my girl home!
The time had come for her to head back to her home. 6 a.m. came early with the daylight-savings time change. She packed every square inch of her car, loaded Nickie, and hugged me goodbye. My husband held me too and kissed me goodbye as I wept, uncontrollably. It never gets any easier. My husband hopped in the driver’s seat to help her on the 18-hour drive back home. I watched the red taillights drive off into the distance and walked back inside the quiet house—no dogs to greet me at the door, and no daughter making espresso coffee in the loud machine. It was quiet. I began to cry. I moped my way to church alone. I cried shopping at the grocery store purchasing groceries just for me for the week. I cried coming home to no dog greeting me at the door or child to say hello to. I cried my way through the entire day.
Then the Lord brought perspective to my heart and attitude. I was looking a gift horse in the mouth, as mom used to say. I was looking at what felt like a loss and not even acknowledging the gain I had over the past several months. I had a gift, a blessing of extended time with my daughter here. It was precious. How quickly I had forgotten the blessing, dwelling only on the loss. Yes, goodbyes can be hard, but what a joy to have the gift of time together.
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (ESV).
John the Baptist said in John 3:27, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven” (ESV).
God is the Father of good gifts. He loves to bless us in so many ways. How are you viewing the gifts He has given you? Are you thankful? Do you recognize His blessings? Or are you depressed and in a downcast spirit because you are dwelling on the wrong things and have a wrong perspective?
Psalm 42:5 says, “Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God” (MSG).
Psalm 42:11 says, “Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God” (MSG).
Psalm 43:5 says, “Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God” (MSG).
This exact verse is mentioned three times in these two chapters. Sometimes we need the repetition. Let this be a reminder for all of us to fix our eyes on God and His precious Son, Jesus, and be praising again! That’s something we can all chew on for awhile!
How can you make Monumental Moments and live to multiply His movement today?
