On delight ...

As parents of two young children, whose family lives far away, we try to be diligent about documenting our children’s development and milestones. In our family we do that with group emails and links to recent photos. At the beginning of our children’s lives, we share about the many firsts: first smile, first laugh, first crawl, first step. As they age, we note other developments: conversation skills, playing abilities, sleeping habits, physical growth. Of course we usually include funny anecdotes which give a little insight into the unique personalities of both our children. At this age, there is a sense that everything is monumental and to be cherished. We get excited about and are fascinated by the constant changes and growth. Consequently, we are often scrambling for a camera, or trying to memorize details to share later.

As I was filling out my younger child’s “First Year Calendar” this week, noting all the little details I could remember from the last month, I was thinking about what a shame it is that we do not do the same things for ourselves as adults. I do not know about you, but I find that I am so busy looking ahead and attacking tasks in front of me, that I rarely sit down and look back at what has happened in my life – in the last day, the last week, the last month.  And when I do look back, I more often look back at things I have yet to do. I have lost altogether a sense of wonder and amazement at my own life – the accomplishments, blessings, and goodness of life. I cannot remember a time when I thought, “Wow, look at how I have grown and changed in this last month! What a blessing!”

I wonder if this might be a spiritual discipline that could bring us closer to God. Our God is a God of love, who looks at us and is well pleased. In fact, when God created humankind, God said that it was “very good.” I like to imagine God as the kind of God who takes the same kind of delight in each of us as we take in little children. I invite you this week to grab your family calendar, your smart phone planner, or your recent photographs and reflect on the goodness that is you. You are made in the image of God and are wonderfully made. I invite you to take delight in God’s creation.