I recently experienced a miracle. It is a miracle that many of you reading this have experienced as well – the miracle of birth. There is nothing as awe-inspiring as watching a newborn open its eyes for the first time. Nothing so stirring as hearing that bleating cry for the first time. Nothing so amazing as knowing that the infant goes from getting everything that it needs from the umbilical cord to breathing with lungs that have never been tested. I am pretty sure that my jaw dropped when I learned that in those first few minutes the heart actually rewires itself so that the circulation goes to the lungs rather than the umbilical cord. There are no better words to describe my feelings than wonder and awe. What amazing grace!
The experience of this miracle, however, was even sweeter than the births of our other two children. More precisely, it was sweeter because of those two children. For, as wonderful as it was to experience the birth of our baby, it was even more joyous to experience it through the eyes of our two older daughters. They have been filled with anticipation for the last few months and when they finally got to meet their little sister, they were beside themselves with excitement. Our three-year old’s first question was, “Can I pet her?” Even now, they can’t get enough of the new baby. Experiencing this miracle through their eyes and expectations just added to my delight.
I think that this is true for God as well. He is pleased when we delight in his creation. In Psalm 104 the psalmist poetically praises God for the wonders of his creation, from the mountains to the oceans, from the sun to the moon, and all of the creatures that he has made. The psalmist exclaims that he moved to sing of such wonders and he concludes the psalm saying, “May my meditation be pleasing to God, for I rejoice in the Lord.” He expects God to be pleased by his wonder and awe at the manifold majesty of God’s creation. God created the world good and wants us to enjoy and appreciate it.
God looks down on us as little children and takes delight in our delight. He has placed us in the middle of his amazing creation, so that we may get a taste of his goodness and grace. Creation is like a mirror in which we might catch a glimpse of God’s majesty, beauty and glory. So let’s all thank God for his amazing grace, and his miracles.
(Monte Johnston is pastor of the Clayton Presbyterian Church at 468 East Second Street and www.claytonpc.com)