(Caroline Swanson is a fifth grade teacher in St. Louis. She and her husband attend
The Crossing in Fention, MO.)
I was recently asked the question, “When is the last time you were in awe of God?” For me, that was a simple question as my husband and I had just welcomed our sweet baby boy into the world. My friend sitting next to me was struggling to come up with an answer, and that got me thinking. Before becoming a mom, when was the last time that I was in awe of God? I had to really think on this, and that made me feel a little sad. I had been missing out on so many opportunities to notice wonderful things happening in the world around me.
I looked through a few of my journals and came upon an entry from when I was on a mission trip with Just Jump to Ensenada, Mexico. I was with a group of amazing teachers and friends. I was reminded of the hope that I experienced while there. Our world is filled with so much devastating news, and so many people in our world are feeling lonely and forgotten. However, on this trip, I saw so many children and families being shown the love of Christ through soccer, snacks, stories, and songs. That filled me with incredible hope.
God is on the move. He is not finished here, and we can take great comfort and hope knowing that he is alive and is moving through people around us. This holiday season, I want to encourage you to take notice. Take notice of the people around you and how God is moving through them. Take notice of how God is moving through your community and our world. Take notice of the hope we can have because we have a good father who is forever on the move.
