The Ability to Receive
by Barbara Philbrook

A special someone asked me a question today,
and when I answered she instantly began to pray.

Is it difficult for you to receive what others offer you,
have you the awareness that this is true.

Oh yes it has been a curse all of my life,
I recognize the defect and it has caused me strife.

Prayerfully she said not to receive is an insult to our Lord,
He made us what we are and His efforts deserve an applaud.

God does not make errors nor does He make junk you see,
not to accept compliments is to claim we were made less than perfectly.

Now before we accept Jesus into our heart,
we are then imperfect and were from the start.

Our sinfulness made us imperfect and we had a flaw or two,
but by accepting Jesus it is His perfection the world gets to view.

Once we accept we are then seen no longer as other men,
we are seen as reflections of Jesus who lives through us again.

The compliments are for His perfection seen in and through us,
never again when being offered a compliment shall I fuss.

Never again shall I brush words of praise or encouragement aside,
now I will accept them with humbling pride.

Thank You Father for allowing me to see,
that others looking my way see a reflection of Thee.

Thank You for showing me how I may have  caused You pain,
and for the conviction that from this sin I may refrain.

Thank You for a sister who's so in touch with You,
I know her words were loving, sincere and true.

The ability to receive, be it things or words of praise,
I know I posses it Lord, I ask You it's power to raise.

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