The Splendor of His Creations

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. —Genesis 1:31 niv

We live in a broken world in which many things are askew; so it’s no wonder we forget all the lovely things God has written his signature on, starting with the heavens and the earth. How sad for us when we are caught in the tension of our routine and miss the splendor of his creations.

Perhaps because children live so close to the earth, they often are the messengers that remind us of a frog’s throaty croak or a cricket’s high-pitched chirp or a katydid’s tattletale song. Kids are the ones who affirm the dandelion’s beauty, a stick’s usefulness, and a pebble’s colors.

When was the last time you stared into the dazzling pattern of the stars? Or gathered a fistful of lilies of the valley or crammed a jar full of hydrangeas or arranged a vase of peonies? When did you sit at the water’s edge and lean in to hear its song?

Has it been too long since you sifted sand through your toes or traced the lines on a beautiful shell that you discovered? Who was the last child you introduced to a tadpole? Or helped to catch a turtle?

Creation is bursting with discoveries. A billowing cloud, a sun pattern on a patch of pumpkins, or a bulging garden all comfort us. The Lord knew we would need these undeniable reminders of his presence on earth.

Lord, thank you for all the beauty we have on earth. Help me to remember to appreciate it and not take it for granted. Amen.