~Extreme Willingness~

"My dress" the young girl murmured, her words slurred through swollen lips. "Please give me my dress. I want to hold it. "

The Christians surrounding the girl's bed were sad. Because of her extensive internal injuries, doctors could do nothing for her. Weeks ago, the believers had bought her a while dress to celebrate her new life and pure heart in Christ Jesus.
Her father had not been pleased with his daughter's decision to follow Christ. one night, in a drunken rage, he attacked his daughter, beating and kicking her. He left he lying in the muddy street to dies.
When she did not show up for church, her Christian friends went looking for her. They found the girl unconscious, lying in a heap, her formerly snow white dress now covered in blood and mud. She was brought to a doctor, but her injuries were severe.
Now she was asking for her dress.
"The dress is ruined," her friends told her. They tried to talk her out of it, thinking that seeing the ruined dress would break down the girl's spirit. With the simple faith of a ten-year-old, she whispered, "Please, I want to show the dress to Jesus. He was willing to bleed for me. I just want Jesus to know that I was willing to bleed for him."
Shortly afterwards, the young girl died.


God is not interesting in our ability. We may be talented. Resourceful. Wealthy. Professional, popular, and punctual. Offering our carious abilities in God's service, however, is nothing like offering our availability. Our abilities are about ourselves--- we can see ourselves doing this or that for God. in contrast, our availability is about God alone--- we can only imagine how God will use us in His service. Being available to god means being willing to obey no matter what the cost. God wants our willingness to serve him regardless of our specific abilities. How do we become so willing? that, too, is God's gift. He gives us the "want to"--- the will or desire to be available to him.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so
Much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi.

(All of this is taken out of Extreme devotion-- a book I highly recommend.)