Having 2 girls I have learned to pay attention to the details. When my girls are telling me a story about their day or about their friends, the amount of detail is amazing. They teach me and remind me that everything matters and paying attention to details makes life and relationships better. Sometimes I find myself in trouble because I will overlook an important detail they have deemed should be obvious to me. Nothing triggers my anxiety more than when they say, “dad, do you notice something different about me?”
This is a trap.
I am trying to grow in my awareness of those obvious things with my girls, like a new shirt, new way of braiding hair, or a new song they are learning. As my awareness grows, I am finding joy in the things I once overlooked.
I have been learning a lot about the kindness of God recently as I am teaching about it in our church. One of the ways I am growing is by paying more attention the kindness of God in my own life. The more I am aware, the more I see that I easily overlook the kindness of God when I am not paying attention. This passage in Titus 3 has challenged me:
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
There is no greater demonstration of God’s kindness in my life than in the salvation He has given me.
Out of His love and kindness for me, He provided a way for me to be in a right relationship with Him. Even though I was separated from Him because of my sin, He showed me kindness through His mercy towards me. And because of His kindness in providing my salvation, I am now able to walk in fellowship and intimacy with Him every moment. His kindness is not just a nice benefit in my life, it has given me life.
Each day I am growing in my awareness of God’s kindness in my life. There are days that I struggle to see it or find it. Not because it is not there, but because I become distracted and self-absorbed. In these moments, God is reminding me that His kindness is most evident in my relationship with Him.
My life is filled with greater joy when I am aware of the beautiful things in my life that I can easily overlook; like the kindness of God, a new mermaid shirt, and perfectly executed twin braids.
Maclane Forbus 