Curry Leaves Lessons

A little over a week ago I got an exciting notice in our village mail box. A long awaited box was in customs at the main post office in Limmassol. Quickly we changed our plans and jumped in the car since the office closes at 1:30pm. We decided to swing by the home of one of the youth in our church. Joshua was going to try to help fix a car door window. My plan was to drop Joshua off and go to the post office and complete other errands on my checklist. I was in my task oriented mode. Before I got to drive off, Joshua let me know that the youth's mother wanted to meet me. Quickly I had to change my mode so I would enjoy the visit. While I visited, I had a tasty Sri Lankan chickpeas dish. The flavor reminded me of an amazing Indian dish a friend had taught me to make in the US so I asked the lady of the house where there was a good Indian store and if I could find curry leaves here. She joyfully said she had some curry leaves in her freezer and explained where the Indian store was. I accepted her gift only to later understand that the curry leaves had come from Sri Lanka and couldn't be found fresh or frozen here! I proceeded to I try to tell her I couldn't take them, but she would hear nothing of it. As we drove off to get our package from the post office, it hit me further what this sweet lady have given me. It would be like giving up MY chocolate chips from the US. Those are precious to me. Would I have given them if someone had told me they use chocolate chip in a recipe? Would I have given them to someone that wasn't from the US because do they really like them as much? The Holy Spirit wouldn't let me lie to myself...I probably wouldn't have. AND if I had my way that day I wouldn't have even learned this humbling lesson of giving joyfully from what is precious.