 |
|
As I drove home to surprise my parents for thanksgiving--one last time to demostrate in person my love for them before I leave for M@li--I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the trees! They were dressed in the most beautiful colors. I found myself saying over and over..."Oh that's my favorite! Oh I love that one the best! Oh Father, You did great on with that one! WOW! Did you see that one? That tree shines...even in the dark, I can see it's beauty!" The conversation went on and on with Father about the beauty of His trees this year! I couldn't really see anything else but the incredible trees with their brilliant colors. (I was glad Father had control of the car! I was a bit distracted!) After the big surprise and about causing my parents to have a heart attack, I came home with them to enjoy some time with them and prepare for our family thanksgiving. Mom and I were decorating the table and we decided to put some of the beautiful leaves on the table. I went out to gather some from the gorgeous Japanese Maple tree. I found myself examining those beautiful leaves. You know what I found...each leaf bore marks of imperfection, places where the color was not so brilliant, and areas where life was being drained out of it. It made me stop to think. For hours on my drive from Texas to SC...literally days, I marveled at the beauty and the glory of G0d displayed in the trees I encountered. All I could see was the perfection of the Creator and a canvas of incredible artwork. After closer inspection of the leaves, I marvel even more. You see, even though each leaf is imperfect and bears the marks of life's struggles, it still displays the splendor and glory of its Creator! It made me think of our lives--the lives of those who know, love, and obey the One who gives us life. Each of our lives are imperfect, sinful, and bear the marks of life's struggles. But because of J3sus and His obedience to lay down His life for our imperfections, our sins, our selfish ways, our lives display the glory of our G0d. J3sus makes it possible for our lives to shine with brilliance the Presence and Reality of our G0d. Because of J3sus our lives can cause others, and even ourselves, to marvel at an amazing G0d who lives in us!
For me...this thanksgiving finds my heart filled with gratitude to my G0d for His pursuit of us--sinful, selfish, undeserving people! He came to us and gave His life so we might live and shine the light of His gl0ry for all the world to see!
Thank you for being a leaf on the tree of life with me! Because of His Presence in you, in me, in us, we cause the world to stop and marvel at the incredible beauty and glory of our G0d!
Happy Thanksgiving!
