Chasing Bubbles

Our evenings in the time of Corona have been some best times of our lives together as a family. The activities are the same, but one thing generally stands out for me. We usually take a walk around the neighborhood and then when we get back home, basketballs come out and for our youngest, Emerie, the bubbles come out. Bubbles with Emerie will arrest anybody in the vicinity. As the bubbles are blown, she takes off, full speed, after them. It doesn't matter where they go, she laughs and runs and runs...and runs until there are no more bubbles to be blown. When they go up high, she tries to jump and grab them. Other times, she will wait until they come down to her level before reaching her hand out to pop them. Her squeals of glee are cathartic. In a world where so much has changed, her joy is piercing to normalcy, and it is welcome.

The number 1 rule is that Emerie will ALWAYS chase the bubbles. No matter how much they look the same to my jaded, adult eyes, to her child eyes, each bubble is something new to be appreciated and chased. They all deserve her new attention. The energy with which she chases them is reckless, almost as if each bibble might be the very last one for that evening. Yet, even when tired, she still musters the energy to continue running and running...

...and running.

I'm convicted as I think about this. How hard have I been chasing after the bubbles that God blows my way everyday? How jaded have my eyes become to his faithfulness? Do I still look in awe at His blessings, or does it take bigger and bigger displays of His power to move my heart to run? If the Bible says that His mercies are new every morning,then just how renewed is my heart to receive those mercies?

Maybe you're not like me, and if that is the case, kudos to you. What I know is that I need to chase after the bubbles. I need to stop evaluating whether they are worth it. It is better for me to simply appreciate the bubbles, God's presence, and run recklessly after Him, than to simply stand by and watch Him move all around me and be a bystander instead of actively getting involved in praising Him for who He is. Next, I need to regard everything that God does as BIG. From taking that first breath in the morning, to recognizing all of the bodily systems that operate on autopilot at His command during the night. From being thirsty to the receptors that tell me when that thirst is satiated. Finally, I have to remember to stop and take in the moments. God is a God of moments. And sometimes, we miss them because our minds are elsewhere. Other times, it is not that we miss the moment, we just are not all the way present in them. Emmy is able to fully realize the power of each bubble because she is intently focused on them. There is nothing else in those moments. Just bubbles.

There are no small things with God. There are no small blessings. No small favor. No small love.

What I think you'll find is that God is even greater, more loving, more gracious, more merciful, showers more favor, and surrounds every moment more than you've ever realized before. You'll notice that no two moments with God are the same as the ones before them. You'll hear His voice in ways that become addictive and help you realize just how necessary He is.

And when we realize that every moment with God is unique, then we can be like Emerie and take the time to chase all of the bubbles, everyday of our lives.