I have been spring-ifying the house this last week. It cannot wait any longer. I’ve been spring cleaning like mad, and putting out any decorations I own that are green. I suppose since I’m half Irish, I should claim this green obsession with my heritage being celebrated on this day. Hey, if it’s an excuse to flood this white world with color, I’ll take it.
The phrase “Morning by morning, new mercies I see” from the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” has been stuck in my head for days now. I’m reminded of the repetition of God’s blessings. It probably works out that way because we forget them in a millisecond.
Last week I was getting the girls in their pajamas when Solveig ran to the window to see a bright pink sunset outside her window. She yelled, “God made the sky PINK for ME!” Now, maybe that was a little narcissistic of her, but I still love it. Oh, that we would delight in things like that.
I’ve been thinking about my kids lately, and how what seems to be their greatest desire is that I enjoy them. The love when I laugh at their jokes. They love when I try to make them smile. They get so excited when I praise their work.
Likewise, they hate when I tell them to leave me alone. They hate when I cast them aside. In all reality, what they want doesn’t always require a lot of time. What they want is for someone to delight in them. Really, that’s what we all want. We all want someone to say, “Wow, isn’t he/she amazing? I love what they do.”
I can’t help but think that God loves that too. Wow! Look at that sunset! That’s AMAZING!
Look at the perfection of these snowflakes! Look at the color of your eyes! They’re beautiful!
John Piper talks about in his book Desiring God that worshiping out of duty is akin to a husband bringing his wife flowers for their anniversary and saying, “It is our anniversary, and custom dictates that I give you flowers. So here they are, you better like them.” That doesn’t go over so well.
It’s all a love story. This is all a love story. Looking for, and finding that delight, recognizing and praising for His gifts is all part of the love story.
Fortunately, those mercies, these gifts that He leaves us are there for us to find, morning by morning.
I’m blessed.
elizabeth says
March 17, 2014 at 12:43 pmyes, how true! What a lovely mantle place! I could so use that fire place this morning, it’s cold here!!
Renee says
March 17, 2014 at 9:42 pmLovely analogy here. I expect God does desire for us to delight in Him the way He delights in us or we delight in our children….straight from the heart! Beautiful thoughts to ponder. Stopping over from Ann’s.