God Gives and We Gather

Hi Friend,

The vet has put Heidi’s cat Caleb on a diet. He has lived with us for just over a year and has gained about 5 pounds—a lot for a cat. Gone are the simple days when we could just fill two bowls with food and let Caleb and Piko graze as they pleased. At first Piko was finding it a bit hard to break into this new routine. As I set his bowl down yesterday morning, a verse from Psalms (104:28) came to thought, “That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.”

My thoughts drifted back to when Heidi was born. Breastfeeding was challenging. My nipples were shaped differently, and she definitely preferred one over the other. Trying to get her to latch on and drink from the other side was quite frustrating. During a difficult moment, Michael shared that Bible verse with me. It became my nursing prayer. I realized the Psalmist doesn’t just say with hope, “they might gather if the conditions are right.” In my heart the words became became a law: “What God gives, he makes sure we gather!” God would make sure that Heidi’s and my needs were taken care of. He would guide Heidi’s actions. My approach to feedings became calmer and expectant of success. The nursing did literally even out, and breastfeeding became a happy treasured time.

As Piko began eating, thinking about this law of gathering nourished my morning prayers. Our ability to gather—to find to and utilize God’s infinite goodness, is innate and as natural as a flower turning towards the sun. Fear, doubt, ignorance, human will or circumstances—nothing can limit our ability to partake of God’s infinite supply for us. Whatever is needed—qualities like moral courage, discipline, strength, inspiration, peace and joy, or "things" such as employment, food or companionship—is freely given to us by God. He turns our thought in the right direction and gives us the practical ideas needed to discover His blessings.

Happy gathering today!

With love,
Maria

Postscripts: I often sang hymns while nursing Heidi and Lincoln. One of my favorites, a poem by Mary Baker Eddy, also talks about gathering,
“Shepherd, show me how to go, o’er the hillside steep, how to gather, how to sow,—how to feed Thy sheep….”