You know those times when a little kid is telling you a story that you know is untrue, but he makes you smile and warms your heart, so you and your happy heart just play along because you love him so, so much, regardless of how untrue the story is?
And you know those times when a little kid is adamant that she sees something with her glistening eyes and wild imagination, and you want so badly to see what she sees through those awe-struck eyes?
And you know those times when a little kid watches the clouds float by with eyes of wonder, reminding you of the sweet, sweet love of Jesus because she is so in love with creation and you are so in love with her darling, precious heart?
Those times when a little kid reminds you to see the world through eyes that recognize the simple truths? Truths like, God is so big. Creation is beautiful. Jesus loves me. Jesus loves you.
You know?
—–
I was driving home a couple of nights ago with my niece, Madysen, in the back seat. She kept telling me that she saw a pizza, and I was so, so confused.
“What? Where do you see a pizza?”
“Right there! There’s a pizza,” she responded, pointing out the window.
I looked to my right and saw trees. Hm. Still confused.
About 25 minutes later, we pulled into the driveway, and Madysen asked, again, why there was a pizza. I looked out the window and saw my neighbor’s Christmas decorations.
Well…maybe if I squint my eyes? Tilt my head? No? Okay, how about this? I’ll tilt my head the other way…still no. At this point, I was super hungry and would have loved to see a pizza magically floating outside my car. But I didn’t.
What a mystery. I decided that I would probably never know what it was that – in Madysen’s eyes – resembled a pizza.
I opened the back door and leaned down to unbuckle Madysen. I looked up as I was getting her out of the carseat and you’ll never guess what I saw. Actually, I guarantee you guessed correctly. A pizza!
A few weeks ago, I was driving my cousin and his friend to get ice cream. His friend blew on my window and used his finger to draw a pizza. I completely forgot about it.
I was so amused. I could not stop laughing. This little girl had me baffled for a full 35 minutes. She was so certain that she could see a pizza, and I was so certain that I would never understand how she saw a pizza when all I saw was the same view I see every time I drive home.
But what she said was true. The pizza was there. It was there the whole time. All I had to do was take a moment to move in closer, and I could see the world from her perspective.
—–
50 squad members, with their beautifully unique stories.
11 countries, with their beautifully unique people.
1 God, with his beautiful, almighty, awe-inspiring, miracle-working power.
1 God, who loves us through others and loves others through us.
1 God, who faithfully lights the way when we haven’t a clue where to go.
1 God, who fills us with inexplicable peace and joy in all circumstances.
1 God, whose love is perfect and present and powerful.
1 God, who gives us wisdom and discernment when we seek it.
I am excited, y’all. There are going to be so many pizzas.
—–
However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived” –
the things God has prepared for those who love him –
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgements, for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16
