December 28

Prize Present Blessings

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight. — Luke 24:31 BSB

All along the road, Jesus walked with these disciples, warming their hearts with His words, yet they didn’t recognize Him until He vanished from their sight. It’s often the same with us—we don’t appreciate many of our blessings until we lose them. We don’t value health until it is broken. We take our daily privileges for granted until they are taken away. We may not fully appreciate our homes until we are homeless.

The same is true of our friends. We don’t see their true worth until we lose them. This is especially true of the loved ones closest to us in our own families. Because they are always with us, serving and helping us, we don’t recognize how valuable they are. But when one of these dear ones is gone, we suddenly realize how much they meant to us. The familiar face is gone, the voice of love is silent, and the gentle ministry ceases. In their absence, we understand what they were to us. As one poet sadly wrote:

“And she is gone, sweet human love is gone!
‘Tis only when they spring to heaven that angels
Reveal themselves to you; they sit all day
Beside you, and lie down at night by you,
Who care not for their presence: muse or sleep,
And all at once they leave you. Then you know them!
We are so fooled, so cheated.”

As the year comes to a close, let’s learn to value our blessings while we still have them. Let us not wait for the empty chair to remind us of a loving friend.