By Katy Mariotti

What Are You Thinking Of?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 English Standard Version

This past week I was driving with my children. My son had just finished ninja class which he takes every week, and I was driving to a church choir rehearsal which I lead. As we stopped at a stop light, my mind was racing with all the things I needed to do. “When I get to church I need to turn the lights on and unstack the chairs. I’ll need to keep my phone with me so I know when my husband gets there to pick the kids up. It’s snowing; I hope my choir members get there safely” and so on.

Suddenly my daughter said, “Mommy, my window is sparkling!” My son chimed in, “mine is sparkling too!” The lights from the street lights outside were shining on the little bits of ice frozen to the window, causing them to sparkle.

This immediately made tears come to my eyes. Do you remember being a child? How much easier it was to live in the moment, and to be caught up in the present joys that surround you? My kids are great at this, especially my son (shown in the picture here, swinging with abandon). Just this morning, we were almost late to school because he was washing his hands VERY slowly, pretending that the water coming out of the faucet was a waterfall, and the little bit pooled on the bottom of the sink was a pond.

God doesn’t want us to forget our responsibilities and give way to the temptations of the flesh. However, He does want us to think about what is pure and lovely, as stated in Philippians. My children are a good reminder to me to think about these things, to notice God’s gifts he gives us even in the little moments of driving in the car, washing our hands, or swinging on a swing. And most of all to remember that the God of peace is with us!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado