Not what I will, but what You will.

~Mark 14:36b NKJV

The aroma of horsehair overwhelmed me as I buried my face in Princess’ mane. I knew there wasn’t much time left.

Princess grasped my ponytail scrunchie with her muzzle, slid it off, waving it triumphantly. If a horse could laugh, she was doing it. This was a deliberate move on her part to cheer me up. I would have joined her celebratory disposition, but I knew we only had days together. I was moving out of state, and she would not be traveling with us. A tear traced my cheek. I couldn’t even tell her!

“God,” I said, “What do I do? Princess needs a new home too.”

In the silence, a thought formed, She was a gift; so give her as a gift. As much as the thought of giving up Princess grieved me, I realized this giving day had been ordained all along.

Princess had come to live with my neighbor when her previous owner, Patty, had fallen on hard times. Nonetheless, Patty would come to ride her. I noticed Princess high stepped her gorgeous foxtrot best for Patty.

I would care for Princess and my neighbor’s appaloosa whenever she vacationed. One year I teased her saying she could have her appaloosa back, but I was keeping Princess. To my amazement, she said she’d been waiting for me to ask. The benefit for her was I’d be assuming responsibility for the vet, farrier, and feed bills.

My neighbor had moved long ago so I knew who the Lord was referencing when He spoke into my spirit to give Princess as “a gift.” Patty’s financial situation had improved, but she did not have pasture land, so it made little sense to me to call her. But I contacted her anyway. Patty arranged to have Princess pastured in an adjoining field a cattleman owned, and the preparations were made to make the transfer.

It was giving day. As my horse-haired angel trotted out of my world, a strange sense of gratitude overtook me. As deep as this loss was, I knew Patty’s heart was now full. Realizing Father God had planned this giving day from the beginning, and seeing Patty’s joy, I smiled through the tears and hugged Princess one last time.

There’s another giving day that took much more sacrifice than the above. It was accomplished by Father God, His Son Jesus Christ, and through the action of the Holy Spirit. Let’s imagine the scene…

Father God cradles His Son in Gethsemane’s Garden as angels wipe the tears and bloody sweat from Jesus’ brow. Father confidently says, “Son, it is giving day.” He assures His Son that the hard decision to go to Calvary’s cross is the right decision, does Father’s heart grieve? As His Son agrees, saying, “Not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36b NKJV), do Father and Son share this heartache together, but relent knowing it was the only way to save the world?

How distraught is our Holy Father as He diverts His eyes, be it ever so briefly, so His Son can bear the weight of our sins? Does He weep when Jesus says, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me” (Mark 15:34b KJV)? Does Father grieve again, knowing He is still there, but He must permit His Son to pay for transgressions He never committed?

Friend, the purpose for this heartache is rooted in divine love–a love that love knows no boundaries–a boundless love only Jesus can truly comprehend. It is this love that on giving day, Father and Son make complete, and Holy Spirit delivers to mankind.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit love you…and so, they knew there must be a giving day. They not only know this–they plan it before you were ever conceived. This heavenly plan was dear to them, because they love you.

The Son of God was destined to first wear a crown of thorns before He’d wear His heavenly crown. But both Father and Son were ready. Love compelled them. On giving day. Jesus Christ demonstrated His love for you is as rich as His Father’s. We needed this pardon for sin, and on giving day, Father and Son made sure we could have it.

Father God has replaced King Jesus’ crown of thorns with a jeweled crown. Those nail-pierced hands that stretched wide on Calvary’s cross to pay the debt humanity could not pay, are jeweled with crimson-colored beryl stones of glory (see Song 5:14). On giving day, your destiny was inscribed on those loving hands (see Is 49:16).

Think about John 3:16 afresh. Giving day is for you, my friend, as it is for me. This day was ordained from the beginning of time because we have been and always will be deeply loved by our Creator.

When you to think of the high cost of giving day, how loved does this make you feel?

Thank You, Father God,  for the gift of eternal life. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for paying the ultimate price to save me. Thank You, for giving day.

Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction, creative biblical non-fiction

Copyright 2019: Giving Day: Diane Virginia : All Rights Reserved

Published: April 2021: PresbyCan Daily Devotions: Robin Ross, Submissions Editor