God said, “It is Good!”

Genesis 1:31 (NKJV)

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

It seems to me that day 6 turned out to be God’s busiest day yet (insert laugh). As I’ve said before whether all of the activities of day 6 actually happened on one day or it occurred over time, a lot went on! When we left off on day 5, God had created the sea and sky creatures.

On Day 6:

God created cattle and creeping things (Genesis 1:24-25)

God created man/woman in His image and told them to multiply (Genesis 1:26-28)

God created all manner of seeds to make sure man and animals had everything they needed (Genesis 1:29-30)

At the end of day 6 in Genesis 1:31, scripture says, “Then God saw everything that He made, and indeed it was very good. So, the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

At the end of day 6, God looked at everything He had created and He saw it was good. The cattle and creeping things were good. Man and woman were good and God instructed them to be fruitful and multiply. The seeds that would perpetuate food and care for the animals and for man and woman were good. God had it all covered.

It was good.

Looking back over the better part of my life, I tried really hard to be obedient to God. I tried to be good. I think because I was a child of the 50’s and 60’s, that was what we were taught (generally speaking). I remember hearing the phrase, “Children are meant to be seen and not heard.” I don’t remember my parents telling me that, but I do remember not being allowed to interrupt. My mom was quite a talker, so I used to wait for her to breathe. I remember in public I didn’t really have the right to speak openly unless my parents or another adult asked me a question. I don’t know why, but I do know I “knew better” than to talk too much in public. At least that’s what I remember thinking.

By the time my children were born, in the 70’s, my attitude about children had started to change. Three of my children were born before 1980 and my expectation was that we keep the chaos to a minimum when we were in public. That in itself was sometimes difficult. My second born son was our comedian and he has always been the king of ‘one liners’. My daughter was (is) the queen of snark (and so is her daughter). My oldest son has always been ultra focused with everything he does. That means he poured fuel on the ‘funny’ fires.

I would say we were definitely noticed when we were in public, but most of the time it was because we were being pretty silly. The church didn’t always think that was appropriate OR funny (must remember my kids were PK’s...the preacher’s kids). We were on the hot seat a lot (myself included). Note...the preacher got a pass because taking care of the children was woman’s work at that time. At the time I often felt like I was failing to do my job well. Mind you, I still laughed even when I shouldn’t have. Now, I think the whole ‘keep children quiet’ is a hilarious notion. It’s sort of like trying to tell a bird not to fly.

Spiritually, I look at it this way: Jesus was really clear about loving children. Children are open, honest, and funny. Ergo, Jesus loves who children really ARE.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. (You are probably starting to see why I was often in trouble as a PW...Pastor’s Wife).

At any rate God had the last laugh when He called me to ministry and sent me off to seminary. After seminary, two years of counseling and ten years of Spiritual Direction, I finally started to see God’s plan. It includes a lot of acceptance and for me that means laughter. My personal Spiritual Director was an Irish Catholic Priest who was hilarious. I finally started to accept who God created me to be. I am Irish and I am a wee Leprechaun who is a wee bit unruly.

That’s just one more reason I love Spiritual Direction. By sitting with God I learned God loves me just as I am. He created me this way for a reason.

The point is, God called all of creation GOOD.

Men are good.

Women are good.

Animals and plants are good.

I am good because God is good and He created me in His image.

Regardless of my shortcomings, God’s goodness covers me.

Which brings me to you. YOU ARE GOOD.

You were created in the image of God. You have shortcomings just like every human. God knows we have shortcomings and He loves us (more than we love ourselves).

God called us good and according to Galatians 5:22-23, one of the parts (fruit) of the Spirit is goodness, God’s goodness.

God...the Spirit of the living God of goodness lives IN us. We do not need to rely on ourselves for goodness. We rely on the goodness of God.

Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Rely on God’s Goodness

Stop taking yourself so seriously. We all make mistakes. ALL have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). God knows we are not perfect. He wants us to turn to Him (an act of receiving His forgiveness) and receive HIS goodness. Receive God’s Goodness today!

In God, Deborah

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