When I found myself invited, now nearly 13 years ago, by DaySpring to write for their new online community – (in)courage, a home for the hearts of women, I found a true home with women who are to this day, some of my very closest friends. Since then, DaySpring has been a true companion with resources that seek to help every person experience the life-changing love of God. The (in)courage community has welcomed thousands of women to a space of empowering encouragement and honest sharing of God at work. It is a grace to welcome DaySpring and my friend, Anna Rendell, to the farm’s table today…
Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8 CSB
I’ve been looking for goodness—for that which is sweet, good for the soul, joyful and light; for God’s goodness in everyday, ordinary places.
In the middle of our normal daily living, it can be hard to remember that possibilities and hope still exist. These days, it seems like the right move: to be on the lookout for good.
What I’ve found is that goodness is everywhere—all around, all the time, in all the places.
Last year, my baby sister had her second baby, and I had my fourth.
Our kids are head over heels in love with their little brother and their newest cousin. We prayed for these babies, waited for their arrivals, celebrated and decorated nurseries for them, and now they toddle around together.
“In a world that still holds that delicious newborn baby smell and the wobble of a confident toddler’s walk, there is still good.”
Bring on the snuggles, the onesies, the pacifiers and board books strewn about, the late-night texts from my sister while we’re both up with awake babies, the pure sweetness of a new little one.
In a world that still holds that delicious newborn baby smell and the wobble of a confident toddler’s walk, there is still good.
My big kids recently went back to school. Hard as I try to clench my fists around the slippery strands of time, it just keeps marching along. I think of when we attended each of their kindergarten round-up nights at our elementary school, absolutely giddy to be there.
Dizzy with the attention of both parents, the prospect of their own desk filled with pencils and folders, a new teacher, new friends, an entire library to browse, and the promise of riding a yellow school bus. Their joy was overwhelming, and I could not stop grinning big and silly at their happiness and hopefulness.
In a world that still holds freshly sharpened pencils and the joy and hope of attending school, there is still good.
In fall and winter, I make soup. When the temperatures dip, it’s time to drag out the stoneware, Dutch oven, and slow cooker. My knife finds a rhythm in slicing vegetables, my ears love the sizzle of browning meat, and my heart leaps as I shake seasonings into the pot and suddenly the soup is more than single ingredients standing alone.
Adding a fresh loaf of crusty-on-the-outside, squishy-on-the-inside bread and maybe a tossed green salad on the side, and dinner on a chilly autumn evening is ready. The satisfaction of cooking is a motivator for me, and the joy it brings me to set a table and welcome my family around it is palpable.
“In a world that holds tables to gather around, family to break bread, and meals to be made, there is still good.”
In a world that holds tables to gather around, family to break bread, and meals to be made, there is still good.
Daily, I sit at my computer. I type out words and create emails, check in on social media and schedule a few posts, attend video meetings and work with my team.
I dig into my laundry pile, sort whites and bright colors, add detergent, and swish-swash goes the washer. I vacuum up dog hair, fallen from our dog who loves to zoom and barrel dive into our legs. I load the dishwasher, unload the dishwasher, and load it up again, full of dishes on which meals and snacks were served and enjoyed.
I pick up tiny toys and stack books on shelves and go to the store for shampoo and bananas.
I check in with the family text thread, drive to sports and band practice, and place books on hold at the library. I collapse into bed at the end of the day, thankful for each task ticked off my to-do list and asking for help to finish the leftovers.
In a world that holds housekeeping tasks and work projects and joy in it all, there is still good.
“God, who loves us as much as He did on day one, makes all things work for the good of those who love Him.”
God, who loves us as much as He did on day one, makes all things work for the good of those who love Him.
He thinks of us constantly, more than there are grains of sand. He created the heat of summer, the colors of autumn, the glittering snow of winter, and the newness of life in spring. He went to the grave and back for us, for me and you.
In a world overflowing with reminders of God’s love, there is still good.
I find these reminders of goodness in all that He made, and within the pages of His Word. It’s evident, full of the words threaded together that show the depth of His love, evident on every page that I turn.
“On days when goodness is not as obvious, I can open that book and find Him still.”
On days when goodness is not as obvious, I can open that book and find Him still. And once my heart is back in line with what He is showing me, I see clearly again.
The walk to school. The sermon at church. The fresh-fallen leaves.
The width and depth of the ocean. The warmth of the sun.
The crisp pages of a new, blank journal.
A hot latte. A letter from a friend.
A daisy growing out of a sidewalk crack.
Your children, friends, and family.
A verse in Scripture that speaks straight to your heart.
Goodness isn’t hard to find, especially when you’re on the lookout.
May you taste and see the goodness of the Lord, from the pages to the lived-out glory of your daily life.
DaySpring, the Christian subsidiary of Hallmark, created the new Signature Collection Bibles with you in mind. It is their hope that throughout this book, you’ll experience the life-changing message of God’s love, feel His peaceful presence, and find a deeper connection with your loving Father.
Published with Tyndale House, the DaySpring Signature Collection Bibles incorporate great design with the clear and accurate New Living Translation to provide you with an exceptional Bible Reading Experience. The NLT will encourage you to dive deeper into God’s heart for you with easy-to-read text that relates to today’s world. Easy to carry and understandable for a variety of ages, this collection is equipped with the Filament Bible app, which puts devotional, worship, and study materials right at your fingertips.
[ Our humble thanks to DaySpring and Tyndale for their partnership in today’s devotion ]
