This afternoon I was sitting outside on the back deck sketching. It was a beautiful afternoon, the weather just perfect. Pausing for a few minutes from my drawing I just wanted to take in the beautiful afternoon. That is when I noticed how blue the sky was and over the top a grove of trees was a big beautiful snow white fluffy cloud. it was so white and so fluffy I just sat and soaked it in. It was beautiful in that moment but it was not a rare atmospheric phenomenon. It was just a beautiful white cloud. And below the cloud was the grove of trees. Not any special trees, not any hard to grow or imported trees. Just your regular maple and oak trees. But yet beautiful and green....every shade of green! as I sat looking at the trees, and probably because I was just drawing, I made note of how many different shades of green were in that little group of trees. Yet, these trees are not trees you would travel thousands of miles to look at. These are not the Sierra Redwoods ! Yet, God saw fit to make these average  unremarkable clouds and trees for a reason.

 

We all know or have seen people that are popular, have excelled, are very important or even famous. I could name a zillion of those people! And then there is me. Do I fit into any of the just stated categories'!? Mercy NO! I am much the same as that white fluffy cloud or that grove of trees. I am the most average, unremarkable, unexceptional person I know. I am an overweight, gray-haired, grandma who has been a housewife for 43 years. I live in the country in a modest home, drive a car that is more than ten years old, and my everyday life is pretty unnoteworthy. It consists of washing dishes, cooking, running the vacuum cleaner, and possibly chasing a chicken or rooster out of my flower beds. I don't travel to exotic vacation spots, or go to fancy restaurants, or shop in designer stores. My name is not readily recognized...except at my favorite consignment and charity shop! LOL!

 

But guess what!? All this ordinariness doesn't bother me in the least! Because when I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror I see someone who was chosen...chosen by a king. Made in the image of Almighty God himself! He himself made me and crafted me, every inch of me...every cell, every bone, every muscle. He picked my eye color, my hair color. He gave me the special character that got me named "Frisky" as a child. He gave me a heart that loves and loves deep. And most importantly loves HIM with my whole heart and soul. And God didn't stop at making me...he loves me, adores me, leads me, forgives me, cheers me, and treasures me. He is always with me and already has planned and paved the paths for me in this life. WOW! Reread this paragraph please. In the same way that he made each and every thing in the heavens and earth He made me! And though what I see as ordinary God sees as special, a jewel in his crown, valued, and HIS! He loves me so much he gave the life of his son for me. Again WOW! While I was soaking in God's creation around me I felt joy and peace, awe and gratefulness. I had to raise my hands in praise and thank him for that cloud and those trees and for his love and faithfulness. And in that moment I knew that i was extraordinary, exceptional, important. Can I get an AMEN!

 

You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my other. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this. Psalm 139:13-14

 

You are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession. You were chosen to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9