Not what I will, but what You will. ~Mark 14:36 NKJV

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

Princess grasped my ponytail scrunchie with her muzzle, slid it off, and waved it triumphantly. If a horse could laugh, she did. This was a deliberate move 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 asked, “What do I do? Princess needs a new home too.”

She was a gift, so give her as a gift, I thought. As much as the thought grieved me, I realized this giving day had been ordained. Princess had come to live with my neighbor when her previous owner had fallen on hard times. Nonetheless, her previous owner would come to ride her. I noticed how Princess high-stepped her gorgeous foxtrot best for her.

When my neighbor vacationed, I cared for Princess and her appaloosa. 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. 

My neighbor had moved long ago, so I knew who the Lord referenced when He spoke into my spirit to give Princess as a gift. By this time, Princess’ original owner’s financial situation had improved, but she did not have pasture land. It seemed senseless to call her, but I did anyway. She wanted Princess back and arranged to have her pastured in an adjoining field owned by a cattleman.

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 her previous owner’s heart was now full. Realizing God had planned this giving day from the beginning, I smiled through the tears and hugged Princess one last time.

But another giving day took much more sacrifice than mine did. God the Father demonstrated this giving through His Son Jesus Christ. Imagine God cradling His Son in Gethsemane’s Garden as angels wiped the tears and bloody sweat from His brow. He confidently said, “Son, it is giving day.” Then, the Father assured His Son that the hard decision to go to Calvary’s cross was the right one. His Son agreed, saying, “Not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36b NKJV). Father and Son shared this heartache together but realized the cross was the only way to save the world.

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

The purpose for this heartache is rooted in divine love—a love that knows no boundaries, a boundless love only Jesus can truly comprehend. On giving day, Father and Son made this giving day complete, and the Holy Spirit delivered it to humanity.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit love us, so they knew there must be a giving day. They planned it before we were ever conceived.

The Son of God was destined first to 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 that His love for us was 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 now replaced King Jesus’s crown of thorns with a jeweled crown. Those nail-pierced hands that stretched wide on Calvary’s cross to pay the sin debt humanity could not pay are jeweled with crimson-colored beryl stones of glory (Song 5:14). On giving day, God inscribed our destiny on those loving hands (Isaiah 49:16).

Giving day is for everyone, a day ordained from the beginning of time because you were and are deeply loved by your Creator.

Think of ways you can thank God for His giving day.

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

  Genre: Non-fiction, creative biblical non-fiction

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