The Shiny New Bicycle
When I was a girl, I received an old and rather large bicycle that had been rebuilt by my great uncle who was a blacksmith. It had lost any shine that it may have had years earlier and it was a bit large and clumsy for a small girl. But I managed, and at least I had a bike to ride about our neighborhood with friends. Or family was struggling financially at the time, so buying a new bike was out of the question… or so I thought.
On my 9th birthday, I had walked to a friend’s house, and was on my way back. About a half a block from our home, I saw the flicker of sunshine reflecting off of what appeared to be chrome coming from our front porch. As I got closer, I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was a shiny new blue Schwinn bicycle! I rubbed my eyes with unbelief! What was this?
My Dad smiled ear to ear as he exclaimed, “Happy Birthday Cindy Lou!” I was thrilled and elated. Having a bicycle of my own was like a dream and I hadn’t even asked for or expected one! I used and cared for that bicycle for many years and treasured it. It opened up a whole new world for me as I rode it, made new friends, and visited with people all over our neighborhood.
But the thing that I treasure more, is the joy that my Father had in giving that bicycle to me. I will never forget his face and his smile as he wished me Happy Birthday. His face showed me that he loved me and that he was willing to sacrifice other things to make sure that I had a shiny new bike. And he had taken joy in doing so.
Isn’t that what our Heavenly Father has done for us? He has offered us the shiny new bicycle of His gospel and a new life through His Son. He has sacrificed and given His very best for us and He takes great joy in that. May we ever treasure and take care of that gift of love. May we never go back to our old, less than shiny lives again. May we always remember to be grateful; and take care of the shiny new lives we have been given.
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