As I walked the shoreline with my daughters, we saw a multitude of different shells. From a distance the shells all looked very similar, but as you got closer, each shell was a different size, a different color, a different shape. They were not the extraordinary ones you would photograph or prominently put on a shelf. These were the ones people walked past without noticing. However, each one was beautifully created.
My daughter began collecting shell after shell. "Look, Mom, this one has a hole in it! I could do so much with it!" Then she picked up a broken shell and said, "Wow, even this broken one is beautiful! I could fix this one or make it into something better."
The thrill of my daughter's excitement caught me by surprise. As she spoke, I felt God's Presence with us. I looked out at the ocean for a minute and silently took in the beauty all around me. It was the perfect opportunity for a moment of prayer. I wondered. "My Lord, You are an amazing Creator. You put so much thought and detail into each shell. If you cared this much about a shell, Your love for us must be tremendous. Do you ever look at humanity the way my daughter marvels over these shells?"
I stood there drinking in the magic of the seashore for a few minutes hoping for a response. When I looked back at my daughter and saw her standing there smiling, I felt as if I had found my answer.
-Susan
-Susan
