First I hear it, the low rumble that signifies the running of feet through the upstairs. Then the laughter and giggles that grow louder and louder as they near the stairway. Down they come, my two youngest, full of happy plans and games, bringing along with them the pieces of a robot they had previously made for VBS. It is an extremely technical creation made from cardboard boxes, tape, and aluminum foil.
The robot is once again brought out to play with the happy imaginations of my children. After taking turns putting on the robot and coming up with additional possibilities, they finally hit on the one that they are most excited and are adamant about everyone seeing. The moment arrives with much fanfare and jumping around by my littlest. With great flourish and presentation, her big sister gets down on her knees and then onto her stomach. “Ta dah,” she announces, “I'm a transformer”.
For a moment, just a flicker of a moment, there was hesitation on my part to see what more would be done. And as she got up with excitement and looked at me, I smiled at her expectant look. Out bubbled her words, “wasn't that good mommy?”
How often my little ones have eagerly showed me something that was made from much effort and great amounts of imagination, that required me to see more than what my eyes saw in front of me. Just as the Lord with His mercy, His grace, sees beyond my own reflection of self and sees His precious child. He has given me life where there was death, love for hate, and laughter for tears.
Beauty for Ashes, that is what He has made of my life. And with Joy, I look to my Lord, knowing that I am transformed beyond my imagination, to His glory.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
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This is an absolutely beautiful devotion. I loved how you showed a snippet of your own experiences to make the verse even more memorable. In my experience, it has been hard for me to write in the present tense without falling into a different tense but you managed it and made it look easy. Beautifully done.
