My shells represent us—broken people. Often discarded as ugly, useless, and therefore unwanted, God showed me their beauty.

What if a ninja went tearing up the center aisle of your church and hammered down on your pastor with his sword? Pretty shocking, wouldn’t you agree?

My roots had been ripped apart with each move too many times. I suffered transplant shock. A part of me was left behind. But then, a new friend gave me a lovely plaque: Bloom Where You are Planted. I cried. How, Lord? It hurts too much.

Sometimes we become blinded to our own sin issues that we pick at and correct someone else’s sin issues. We are often quick to criticize others, but have you noticed that the person being picked at will often accurately point out our hypocrisy? There we stand sheepishly, realizing that they are right.

Let us consider all we see that He’s created and praise Him for His self-revelation to us. May we thank Him for His immense love for us, drawing us to Himself.

If we got what we asked for, we might be sorely disappointed or devastated.