Bloopsy and firestorm,
I can only tell you about my conception of God, which is admittedly pretty new. I think that the English language is very limited. We can call things either he, she, they, or it. None of these fits God for me, though I default to using "he" since it is the most common usage. I don't think of God as male or female, but being above both. I say if it helps you to think of God as female and mother rather than father then do that. You have your own personal experience and relationship with God and nobody, not even a pastor or preacher can tell you otherwise.
My understanding is that God is like a GOOD parent, who wants all good things for his/her children. God gives us gifts NOT because we deserve them in any way, but because "he" wants us to have all the good stuff in life. I very much disagree that we get these gifts because or when we deserve them by being perfect. If that were the case none of us would get much of anything good, ever.
My experience is that there was a lot of time in my life where I wasn't able to ACCEPT these gifts, hear God speaking, or be open to seeing what good things I already had. This may have been what these people were trying to say to you, but as an INTJ I take exception with their imprecise, incorrect wording.

Bloopsy, you deserve every good thing possible in life already, just for existing. God doesn't give bad things, but people often try, and succeed, in putting their "bad" feelings into others instead of dealing with it themselves, as God intends.