We knew someone who knew someone.
So our kids and the Beall kids got to try out the battery operated mini-tractors at our local (unopened yet) pumpkin patch. They owners needed to find out if the hay-bale track they’d built was big enough.
Their own private 8 minutes of fun.
They revved their engines, size 1 sneakers on little accelerator pedals.
“Not yet,” Steve, the pumpkin patch owner called out. “NOT YET!” My husband yelled after him as our four-year-old, with semi-evil gleam in her eye saw an opportunity for a bumper car experience. He was anticipating her uncontrolled steps-on-the-gas.
Chad jumped out of the way as the kids took off.
“Whoever operates this thing will need shin guards,” he laughed as he hopped over the bales of hay.
And as the kids zinged around the track they giggled and squealed. After a couple minutes the noise died down and all we could hear was the whirr of the little John Deeres. Were they bored?
Yes, they were focused on avoiding each other’s bumpers and the stacks of hay almost obscuring the sun. But I also think they were a little bored driving around and around and around in the grass. The same way. The same four kids, four tractors, same short track.
Why?
There hadn’t been any anticipation. There hadn’t been a build-up or a Please-Daddy-Can-Weeee? No tickets paid for with money. No standing in line. No tip-toeing to watch other children race the mini-tractors.
No cost.
We’d walked up and the someone that knew someone saw our gaggle of kids in tow and led us over to the tractors. Serendipity.
But the kids hadn’t been expecting it. They hadn’t asked for it. And even as they loved it, without anticipation there was less enjoyment.
Without cost it wasn’t worth very much to them.
Cost creates worth and it gives something or someone value.
Remember today that you cost a lot. In fact, you’ve been anticipated. You’ve been expected and asked for. You have been sought after. Christ gave His life for you and it was very costly. It cost Him everything. But it was worth it.
He has waited for you, tip-toed to watch you and paid all that He had for you.
And because He’s done that, He has given you unspeakable value and worth. He will never be bored with the beauty that is you.
You, my friend, are worth waiting for.
I needed to hear that last blog encouragement line and I appreciate you taking time to say it. Be blessed for caring!!
Amazing writing.
Sarah~Beautiful writing, reached deep into my heart, thank you!God’s timing always amazes me!
i really, really love how the holy spirit was able to inspire a story about children riding tractors into a story about how much he loves us.
holy cow, sarah. this is so beautiful and who doesn’t need to hear this message? thank you for sharing it.
xo
I love the line ‘He will never be bored with the beauty that is you’ if we could only take that IN and let it minister to our hearts and souls our lives would be so different.
Thank you Sarah.
This blog is one I will read over and over today. I struggle with feeling ‘not good enough’. I even had a dream just last night where I told the other person in my dream, “Bottom line is I will never be good enough for you.”
Your blog reminds me what IS true. Jesus thinks ‘I’ am good enough to die for! That’s all that matters.
Thanks!
We don’t hear that enough in this day and age. Thanks for the reminder!
Great post, Sarah.
I feel this way about those I love…going to pass it on today.
Thanks for this today. I needed to hear it.
Wow. Thanks. I’ve had to remind myself of this a lot lately. I was told by a friend that I am no longer “good enough” to be in her circle. I have reminded myself that Jesus loved me enough to die for me. It’s not about being good enough or righteous enough because none of us will ever be. We get our value and worth from the fact that HE loved us enough to die for us! Thanks for a great message.
On a day when I feel like giving up on waiting for my husband, this is a great reminder that the Lord waited for me. He waited yeats for me to turn from my sin and face him. Finally I did and now I am living in His grace. So who am I to give up on my husband just because I am tired and loosing hope. There is always hope and I can hang in here longer because the he is worth it too. The Lord has such greatness in store and if I walk away now I will never know it.
Thank you Sarah.
Right now I feel soooo loved and wanted that I have a tear in my eye. And a smile on my face. Your words definetly touched my heart today. Thank you for your beautiful writing and how you take the ordinary things of life and turn them into a lesson, insight or encouragement and always a blessing.
brilliant and beautiful.
I think I leave the same comment every time I comment on one of your posts.
I needed this. Thank you
Such a beautiful analogy! Thank you. Love, Traci
I have a little blog that I’m just getting the hang of, and ironically, I posted something on this yesterday as well (although it posted to last week since I started it then. Like I said, I’m getting the hang of this blog thing;). I love what you say Sarah. It’s so true-I appreciate your candidness. I think about this free gift with purchase idea- He paid and we get the free gifts. Let me know, do you agree?
http://livinglargewiththemanincharge.blogspot.com/2010/09/free-gift-with-purchase-peace-grace.html
The last 4 sentences are exactly what God has been trying to speak into my heart this past week. I pray that I will be receptive to the message and let it sink in deep. Thank you, Sarah.
I’ve been thinking alot about value, worth, and the price Christ paid for each of us. I think we too easily (and too often) undervalue ourselves. Whether it’s because of sins, experiences, or lies we buy into, we often associate a value less than we are worth. Christ paid the HIGHEST price for us. Do we live that out? Do we own that?
I’m afraid, more often than not, we don’t.
Oh Sarah.
Lately I haven’t felt worth much at all. Not to my job, not to my friends, or family, or God. I’ve let that feeling construct walls around my heart, protecting me from the thing that can set me free (inside those walls with me was my own sin accusing me).
You know what changed? Having a very wonderful, Godly man decide he wanted to take me to lunch. I spent the entire time wondering what he wanted from me, what agenda it would fulfill. Because it couldn’t possibly be that he valued me, wanted to spend time with me.
But he didn’t have an agenda. Not that I saw. And I was confused about that – the only value I’ve had lately has been in what I can do for others, what they want from me, not just simply myself.
And this showed me what the real reason for that lunch. Because he seeks to live like Jesus. To show people love for no other reason than love itself.
I’ve felt so much like I don’t matter to people, because it’s been too easy to push them away. I’m the one doing the pushing, not them, and I’ve wanted them to, wanted people to care enough to push back. But that’s not how it works, huh? I can circle the One who matters most, and He’ll embrace me if I draw near, but He won’t let me take Him away from who He is.
Thanks.
This is beautiful Jen. I’m so glad that a simple act (of taking you to lunch) made you feel (and know) that you are so valued.
thank you for the comment. i am smiling as i’m reading it.
What I love most about your post is that your sweet husband tweeted about how proud he was of you for writing it and that is what led me here today to read it
God has made you stunning friend… and because of that, you are able to share the concept of true beauty with all of us readers 
Great post. Great memories.
Sarah, you caught me off guard. Wasn’t expecting this. Didn’t know where you were going with it. So now I’m crying, but it’s a good cry. Thank you so much for writing this love letter to us, from Him.
i love those bealls!
Beautiful. I thank God for your amazing Gift of tying in the simple, everyday things into the lessons that He wants us to learn, understand, and keep close in our hearts.
Quoted you on fb today. Thank you!
Remember today that you cost a lot. In fact, you’ve been anticipated. You’ve been expected and asked for. You have been sought after. Christ gave His life for you and it was very costly. It cost Him everything. But it was worth it.
you inpsire my heart so much with your words. i’m so blessed to have happened on your page. thank you for letting God use you in such an amazing way.