Learning From Leaves

Each fall I enjoy rediscovering the colors of the fall leaves as they decorate our back yard in a leafy crazy quilt. This year, I helped my daughters collect some leaves and we pressed them between sheets of contact paper. Then we cut them out and taped them to a window. The sun shines through them every afternoon so brightly that they seem to be lit from the inside. Every vein, wrinkle and imperfection is highlighted in their translucence.

Now as I sit and stare at the leaves on my windows, I am reminded of my own imperfections and how poorly I reflect Christ. Oh, the shape of Jesus is in my life, but so often it is my wrinkles and imperfections one sees most clearly, and not Christ shining through me. It is discouraging! But instead of giving up, I am drawn to God, realizing how much I need Him.

I find rest in God because I continue to experience His mercy, His forgiveness and His restoring love. Satan can try to throw my faults and mistakes in my face, but God's Word reminds me that the Battle was won at Calvary! He is in the business of reforming and transforming me to be more like Him. I can't help but praise God in song:

Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end!

The Light of the World, the Son of God, was sent to us to change people, starting with me. Those around me will hopefully see more of His Light shining through me.

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
II Corinthians 4:6