Everyone Needs a 7 Eleven Story

I experienced one at a young age and it became a defining moment in my life.

I vividly remember asking my dad to play a game with me after dinner one evening. However, he and his partner had started an architectural firm and it frequently required long workdays. Often, he would come home to eat dinner with the family and then return to his office to meet a deadline on a design project.

This one particular evening, my dad said he had to return to work, but he offered to bring me back a treat.  He asked me what I would like.

I knew that a “7 Eleven type store” near his workplace stayed open very late. Near the entrance of the store was a gum machine that showcased rings sparingly nestled among the gumballs. I decided to ask BIG. I asked for one of those rings with the sparkly stones!

The next morning, I opened my eyes and looked with anticipation around the bedroom, hoping to see a ring.  Instead, a small brown paper bag on top of the chest of drawers grabbed my attention.

I quickly walked over to get a closer look and could hardly believe what I saw!

THE LITTLE BROWN SACK WAS FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH GUMBALLS!

Sitting on the very top was an adjustable ring with a beautiful colored stone!

I can only imagine——–

How tired my dad must have been that night.

How many times he had asked the cashier to exchange his dollars for pennies,

How long he had stood outside the store putting those pennies into the machine.

In the years that followed, I referred to this fond memory as my “7 Eleven story.”

One day, as I was preparing to teach on prayer, this experience came to mind and I remembered reading a scripture in the Bible that compares the gifts earthly fathers give with those provided by our Heavenly Father for those who ask Him.

I began to search for the location of this verse in the Bible. When I found it and realized the significance of the reference, I was stunned!

The reference, I discovered, is Matthew 7:11!

It says, “So if . . . sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”- Matthew 7:11 NLT

Whether you had a good dad or whether you didn’t, you can have the best possible Father now! God loves you, He wants to be your heavenly Father, and He gives good things to those who ask Him.

The Bible says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17 NIV

His best “good and perfect gift” is Jesus.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8 NIV

I’m so thankful for a heavenly Father, the greatest Giver of all, and for Jesus, His perfect gift.

I’m also appreciative of a dad who was willing to stand outside a store late one night, putting pennies in a gum ball machine until he had the perfect give to give.

Little did he realize that his effort in obtaining a beautiful, but very fragile ring with a plastic stone would one day help me comprehend the everlasting, enduring love of my Rock and the God of my salvation, my heavenly Father.

Everyone needs a “7:11 story”.

The good news?

We can have one!

“… how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”- Matthew 7:11 NLT