It is a natural part of being a parent to want the best for our children. That includes giving them the things they need and, if possible and practical, the things that they want, as well. God Our Father is no different. In fact, He is a model for all parents on earth. 

God has a plan for each one of us. That plan is called Providence—all things, good and bad, somehow fit into God’s plan. Rather than causing difficult things to happen, He allows them. These things happen because of our own Free Will. 

We can choose to do good, and we can choose to harm others. We can choose to share God’s gifts with others, and we can choose to hoard them ourselves.

God the Father gives us all that we need, and yet we might wonder: what about all the people who lack food, or proper housing, or medical care, or other necessities? Does God not care for them?  Of course He does; the necessities of life must be shared by those who have been blessed with them. It is for us to remember that we are stewards of God’s gifts, not owners of them.

For those in the world who “have not”, God grants the courage and strength—in short, the grace—to deal with the suffering that their lack of material things causes. The lack we suffer here will be made up for in eternal life. God’s spiritual gifts are far more important than His material gifts.

Let us reflect this week on how both types of gifts are given to us to be used properly while we are here on earth.