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2 Kings 5:1, 9-12

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper... 

So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

How often have we missed out on blessing

because we've been more concerned

with being given our place?

How often have we been more interested 

in protocol and procedure

than in kindness and compassion?

How often have we denied others

the opportunity to serve

because they didn't look the part

or dress the part

or hold just the right qualifications?

Gods love and grace

comes to us 

when least expected

in ways we would never imagine

All that is asked of us

is our openness

to receiving the gifts of God

however they are packaged.