Where do you see God's beauty? During the sermon this morning our wonderful pastor gave some examples of catching glimpses of God's beauty - a remote mountain view, a Kansas sunset - images that are so stunning and glorious they take your breath away and have you thanking God for the beauty He put in this world. I can recall many amazing sights: the ocean, the mountains, a pond deep in the woods, the aspens changing, a clear blue sky on a cool Autumn day. Images that instantly fill your mind and leave you in awe of God's creation.
There was a time when I viewed God's beauty very differently. A time when I thought God's beauty was only seen in grand views, amazing acts of love and kindness, great sacrifice...things that claimed an audience and earned high status attention. As a teenager and young adult I certainly didn't see the beauty in acne, research papers, being shaped like a boy, flat tires, heartbreak...I appreciate the beauty in those moments now.
When I was 24 I saw the beauty of my husband's baby blue eyes for the first time. I came to know the beauty of his heart, his story and all of his struggles. I came to know the beauty of love that God created. We said "I do" and I came to know the real beauty of sharing your life with someone.
When I was 26 God gave me something so beautiful it changed my entire being. Samuel was born on a warm September day and I had truly never seen something so beautiful. God sent him into this world crying and screaming and covered in goo - and he was the most precious thing I had ever laid eyes on. I came to know the beauty of new life. The beauty of hungry cries, swaddled snuggles, baby toes, exploding diapers...the beauty of wanting time to stand still. When I was 28 God gave me another beautiful life. Emma was born on a cool May afternoon and in an instant my heart doubled in size to encompass the beauty of two perfect gifts from God. Now you want to talk about beautiful? My Emma is the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen - my oh my, we are in trouble.
There was a time I didn't think the "small things" in life were very beautiful. I didn't take enough time to appreciate them, to thank God for them. I define beauty in a very different way these days. I see beauty in my son's fat baby cheeks and his perfect, mischievous little smile. I see beauty in Emma's baby blue eyes - just like her daddy's. I see beauty in dirty fingernails, scraped knees, mommy snuggles, picking dandelions, five hundred questions a day about how things work and what letter a word starts with. I see the beauty God put in our hearts - the beauty of unconditional love, the beauty of compassion, the beauty of grace. I see the beauty of innocence. I see the beauty of hope He sends us in our fallen world through my precious little ones.
I am so blessed by God's grace. It has taken me a long time to see the beauty in all things - a struggle I will continue with all my days. I see the beauty in mine and my husband's differences because they lead to honesty, submission, and grace. I see the beauty in my son's stubborn, unruly temperament because it leads me to a level of patience I never could have understood. I see the beauty in my daughter's temper tantrums because they lead me to laughter in a moment of chaos. I see the beauty in my aging eyes and laugh lines because it means I've had a lot to smile about.
I see the greatest beauty in Christ - his love, his grace, his great sacrifice. I pray you have the beauty of Christ's love in your heart and that you can see the true beauty of this life.
