"Thank you Lord for my Slingsby Ladder"

I actually had to ask what a 'Slingsby ladder' even was. I had no idea why she was making such a big deal out of it! An older lady who attends my homegroup was so overjoyed about the fact that she had this ladder recently installed in her house. We were moving round each of the 5 of us who attend, and were sharing our various life challenges or joys. Various things were discussed by the other 4 of us: new jobs; stressful jobs; children living differently from how we would hope they would be living; and this Slinsby ladder!

She worked as a nurse and travelled as a missionary across many countries serving with her skills. Her decisions very much limited her possibilities of marriage and so she is single. She has suffered from great illness in recent years. She is one of the most remarkably wise people I have ever met, and when she speaks and shares her life with us, we sit listening intently, hanging on every word she says. She is dedicated in her reading of the Bible and has an incredible knowledge, and with is an incredible wisdom. Throughout her life and still, she is devoted to God as her sole rock and guide. It's displayed in every ounce of her thought, outlook and attitude. Once one of our homegroup members said to her "you must have given up so much to live the life that you have lived", and she replied "not at all, I have been given so much more in return, and been blessed in so many ways". 

The words of a woman who's hope is truly in the Lord. She had left home, given up the opportunity to marry, spent many a Christmas away from home in a strange culture, lived on her own, struggled through illnesses, and yet her only thought is of how good God has been to her.

I'm a 22 year old blessed in so so many ways with so much of my life ahead of me. I'm often lazy in my prayer and study life. I've been given such an amazing privilege to lead and serve in my Church for the year. I am spoiled. Yet how often I am ungrateful. And this lady is over-the-moon with her Slingsby ladder that allows her into her loft.

With the advances in the modern world, we're used to possessions. God is indeed a useful 'bolt-on' to our lives. He gives us added security. He gives us added confidence. He gives us the comfort that we're not alone, and that He forgives us when we do things 'wrong'. We don't need God, but we'll happily take Him where it makes our lives better. 

But this lady has grasped something that I would do well to grasp. Yes God sent Jesus to bring her new life to one tarred by sin, but God has given her that life in the first place. The breath she breathes. She is, because HE IS. We are stewards of what God has given to us. The job, the money, every waking moment - even the Slingsby ladder!

How I could learn to humble myself in the same way, and increase my joy and love for how generous He has been.