A timely lesson...

I love knowing that God is who I get my sense of humor from J  He seems to like to make His points to me in the weirdest times and situations, when I least expect it.  It often takes me off guard and makes me giggle….like, “Really, God? Now, of all times, you want to tell me something deep and challenge my heart?”  Oh well…I guess it works at grabbing my attention! ;)
The latest example was on our trip to Alaska.  While we were there, I was absolutely enamored with the scenery.  It’s BEAUTIFUL there.  I felt like I was in Colorado on steroids. The mountains, the trees, the animals, the rivers, the waterfalls, the lakes, the glaciers: it’s all gorgeous.  We were bused a few times a day to different locations: dinner, activities, tours, and into town for a visit; lots of time to admire God’s handiwork. 

While we were on the way to our ATV tour on Friday morning, I was staring out the window.  I was super excited to go on this excursion and knew that we’d have lots of fun riding fast through the woods, exploring and getting dirty.  Randal and I were both pretty pumped and I was daydreaming about the fun we were about to have.  I was just thinking and admiring one of the mountains in the distance when God decided it was time for a learning opportunity… 

As I was sitting on the bus, amazed at this massive piece of earth and how beautiful it was, I got to thinking about why it was so magnificent.  Every inch of it; every tree, every flake of snow, every peak, and every crevice - it was perfect…just the way it was supposed to be and every seemingly insignificant detail of it made it amazingly beautiful as a whole. 

That’s when God hit me with a big question:  Why is it so easy to see that in the mountains in the distance but not in the person in the mirror? 

Every freckle, every hair, even every stretch mark is just as it should be…and I am beautiful because of all of those little things.  It’s easy to forget.  I look at this mug in the mirror all the time.  It’s easy to see the flaws in myself…to compare myself to other women and come up short. 

I am just as I should be…the same care that God spent making the scenery in Alaska, He spent on making me.  He put every tree in its place…he put every freckle and every hair in its place…just where they needed to be - just where He wanted them, and I can’t argue with that.  It is the little things about me that I need to remember to appreciate and be thankful for. 

It’s so easy to forget…to get tangled up in the bad feelings we often feel towards our reflections and the things we see every day.  But thinking about how much thought and care was put into making that girl looking back at me has me thinking a little differently today…taking less for granted.

And not just the physical: I tend to forget what a treasure the little pieces of my personality are.  Sometimes I start to think that these things are my downfall, even that they annoy others. My thankfulness for my spunk, my humor, my instinct to give, the way I wear my heart on my sleeve...it’s been renewed and I'm excited again about who I am and how He made me.

I’m so thankful for God’s tugs at my heart…even if they are at funny times J