Creation Reflecting God's Glory
As we join each other this weekend taking moments to slow down, we are blessed with the time to appreciate not only God’s heavenly creation, but each other.
Lately I’ve been a bit obsessive when my auditory sense is, what I would call, tickled. Out of the many gifts that God has blessed us with, the gift of being able to hear is, no doubt, one of my favorites. Now, as much as I love to appreciate the beauty that comes from my own children and being cognizant of their attributes, this realization has become apparent within the confines of the community that surrounds me.
What a blessing it is to be loved by a Creator who has given us distinctions in our character. Each of us with our special voice, our own fingerprint, the curve of our nose or the freckles on our skin. All placed and designed by the One who calls us His own.
The old me could have ruminated on those traits that I might have otherwise found fault in. A laugh that I would presume could be too loud, or given at the wrong time. But the more I am intentional, letting Jesus be the author of my faith, and in growing to be Christ-like, it is in those moments that I can feel my heart softening to the judgments I might have otherwise had for myself.
“God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” — Genesis 1:27
When my kids were first born, I loved to record the little moments, like their first steps, or their silly lopsided grin, a single tooth popping out of their gums. As they grew older, something far more special and individualized developed from them, something that is uniquely theirs: their laugh. The giggle they emit when they find something funny or if I tickle their toes. The laughter that escapes my teenage daughter as I embarrass her for the fifth time that day.
You see, a laugh cannot be recreated. A laugh isn’t generic. Laughter doesn’t shrink itself to fit in or find a need to force itself to be heard. It just is. And what other way could I describe my children’s laugh from the other room, than divine. A sense that can only be accredited to a Creator who took the time to lovingly equip each of us with personality and characteristics that
we would call our own, for He has called us by name.
“I have called you by name. You are mine.” — Isaiah 43:1
This week, I found myself thankful for the laughter of my co-worker. And although I couldn’t see her, the laugh that resounded across the parking lot was distinctly hers. In those moments I imagine her laughing with her family and the love that fills her home begins to fill my heart. I give thanks to our Creator for the opportunity to have ears to hear. I thank Him for filling my heart with love and appreciation. I’m thankful that my heart can be His dwelling place.
“And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.” — 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Jesus, today we come to you to thank you for your creation. We thank you that you took time to set us apart and make us special in our own ways. We thank you for the sweet sounds of a newborn baby, cheerful inflections that fill a room with gratitude. We’re thankful for your intentionality that we may hear and feel the love and care someone has for us -- and always for the sweet sounds of a toddler’s footsteps running down the hall. Amen.