Yesterday I was playing in my backyard with my four year old son, Caleb, and my one year old son, Luke. As we walked out onto the porch we all noticed that the backyard had been taken over by this hideous yellow flower. As I proceeded to walk off the porch and into the yard, I began to curse God (not really but I was questioning a little) about the creation of this little weed!
I began mulling over in my head just exactly how I was going to get rid of a backyard full of them. I was disgusted, annoyed and really angry at the sight of these little pesky flower of a thing. Then my four year old Caleb came off the porch and begin to run around the yard in excitement at the sight of the dandelions. He was telling me how pretty the flowers are and how we can pick some for mommy and all I could think was…these are the ugliest and most annoying things ever.
As I took a seat on the steps and continued to watch Caleb and Luke play in the backyard, I began to think. How often do I look at life situations and people and say the same things. I grumble and complain about people or about what life has handed me. Or I see people and judge based on appearance or circumstance. And then there is God, much like Caleb, who sees the exact same things as I do but sees them totally different. He sees their/there value and beauty, where I can only see worthlessness and annoyance. He sees hope and possibility, where I can only see despair and failure.
It never ceases to amaze me that God can take things and people that sometimes we deem of no worth or value, and restore and redeem them into something beautiful. He takes the messes in our lives and recreates a new story for us. He takes the weaknesses in us and uses it for his glory and power. But sometimes what happens is…we don’t see it. All we can see is worthless and ugly dandelions.
May we have eyes of a four year old today, seeing the world the way they do…full of hope, love, worth and possibility. Seeing God in it all.
Good thoughts J Roach!
I like it. Kids are such truth-tellers!
I’ve missed your posts. And you.