When our boys were young they were delighted with Hot Wheel cars. Since their dad had a collection of these tiny vehicles from his childhood, it naturally peaked their interest. Our sons were absolutely giddy over these wheeled wonders! Each son found themselves well on their way to having their own small collection. I attribute this to the fact that these glossy cars were often added in their Christmas stockings, Easter Baskets and occasionally purchase during a shopping excursion. Hot Wheels are an inexpensive way to provided hours of entertainment.
I never grew tired of watching the three of them joyfully playing with their Hot Wheels. They would spend hours piecing together track, contemplating whether to add height, loop de loops or creating a bevy of obstacles. Making those little cars have more twists and turns then Mister Toads Wild Ride at Disneyland’s Theme Park. Every now and then they would combine all three for kicks and giggles.
Those small sleek chassis would always be up for the challenge, gaining speed and performing feats that brought rousing cheers from all of them, whether the car nailed the complex maze or Evil Knievel jumps. However, at times the challenge was too great, yet undaunted they would quickly pick up their cars setting them back on the track to try again and again. Sometimes even again for good measure!
Looking back I see how these times fostered many great learning lessons for life.
Quality time together
Team Work
Problem solving
Creativity
Perseverance
Learning to cheer others on to the finish line.
No wonder I have an extra fondness for these little jewels on wheels.
Perhaps, this is why I was over the moon excited when I found my tiny Hot Wheel from years ago while recently cleaning out our attic. It was the one my husband Kevin encouraged me to buy one day when he and the boys were each picking out a new set of magnificent wheels to compete with later that evening. Of all the shiny, detailed, hot rods I could choose, I chose the souped -up shopping cart. I know, I know, I already got teased about it long ago. Hey, I was just trying to be me, staying in my own lane even if it was the slow one.
Later that evening great anticipation was in the air as the challenging track was placed in its proper position. Now raised high, the track securely clamped to the kitchen chair for maximum speed, we all stood in line ready for our individual Hot Wheels tiny tires to meet the road. My time came to set my shopping cart down on the narrow orange track, by the looks of it, it could’ve been easily been voted the “Most Unlikely to Win”. And yet I was still eager to see how my fun-sized grocery cart would fair in this line up of the hot rods, dragsters and turbo charged cars.
Much to everyone’s surprise including mine, my small scaled shopping cart put the pedal to the metal like a true blue Supermarket Sweeps winner. And low and behold… I WON!! This shopping cart speedster left the competition in the dust. Who da thunk -it ? Not me that's for sure.
It still makes me smile at the joy of being the most unlikely winner. More then a time or too in my life I have felt that I could not make the cut. Whether fighting feelings of awkwardness or not fitting in, to interwoven feelings of being not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough or thin enough. The list was long and chock full of insecurities and shame.
As I recently read through my sweet worn out One Year Bible that had been artistically scribbled in by our first born at16 months and 26 days old. But who’s counting? I was struck by two things:
One: Time flies faster then a Hot Wheels shopping cart on its track.
And two...
God picks the underdog, the overlooked, forgotten, and the hurting, time and time again, and again for good measure. Choosing them to carry His message of Hope... that we all our Winners in His eyes.
Psalms 18:35. Tells us the mystery of
how we became winners, “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand has held me up; Your gentleness and condescension have made me great.”
Charles Spurgeon wrote:
“Thy condescension” It is God’s making himself little which is the cause of our being made great. We are so little that if God should manifest his greatness without condescension, we should be trampled under his feet; but God, who must stoop to view the skies and bow to see what angels do, bends his eye yet lower and looks to the lowly and contrite, and makes them great.
This is incredibly great news for all of us especially for...
Those that feel...
Unlovable
Unqualified
Unworthy
Unredeemable
For His gentleness, humility, goodness and
great Love for YOU and I is..
Unconditional
Unlimited
Unwavering
Unstoppable
You my friend are a Winner! Even if you feel you don’t measure up to the worlds standards, YOU are not suppose to.. God has stooped down in humility to raise you up in His Glory, to shine in all He created you to be. Which by the way is Great!
Saving us is the greatest and most concrete demonstration of God's love, the definitive display of His grace throughout time and eternity.
David Jeremiah
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:17-21
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