A SPECIAL PORTION

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 1-5

"But he gave Hannah a special portion because he loved her very much, even though the Lord had given her no children." 1 Samuel 1:5 NLT

Bless Elkanah's heart, he tried.

He made a valiant effort.

He wrapped his gift in the sweetest of intentions.

But that extra portion he gave her, still didn't cut it. It didn't fill the emptiness in Hannah's heart. His gracious gift fell short of the blessing God was waiting to give her.

'Things' do that. They fall short. They come up lacking. They don't fill the empty spot.

ONLY God can do that.

Sure we attempt to stuff those empty places until they are bulging. We try to busy ourselves as not to notice the ache. We collect an assortment of titles, labels, commitments that gloss over the barrenness.

And we're still left with a hole in our hearts that ONLY God can fill.

Yes, bless Elkanah's heart for trying, but what he could offer was simply a bandaid on a gaping wound.