Go Fish.

No, it is not supposed to be an orange turd. It is actually my attempt at reconstructing a very touching gift I received from a student yesterday afternoon. I thought I would try to use Microsoft Paint and my memory of looking at the gift throughout the day.

After I got observed today, I started getting a bad headache and I found a place to sit and talk with some students. They were playing house and I was trying, with all my might, to engage them and find out what their world is like. Well, I am sitting on a chair that is about six inches of the ground, and a little female student comes up with an envelope for me. It has my name which surprised me and I opened it. I wasn't sure, but I had a good idea that it was supposed to be a fish. It was. She said that it was a goldfish for me.

If you know me, I am a gifts person. I am also a lover of animals and we do not have any. For a moment, I felt like I had actually received a pet, so I told my student, "Did you know that me and my wife don't have any pets?" She replied, with the most matter-of-fact tone I have ever heard, "Well, you have one now."

And I do. And her actions spoke love into my heart and they got me talking with Paula and we've decided we gotta make a home for this fake goldfish. Maybe even name it. Bring it into class even. And, maybe on Valentine's day, pretend to do some magic and turn it into a real one (ok, didn't talk that over with Paula yet, but she had a similar idea).

I am really getting sentimental here, even forgetting the main point of this. Our righteous deeds are like "menstrual rags"...well, if we rely on them and not Christ (look at Isaiah 64 and surrounding). But in Christ, all my silly works are sanctified and our Father sees them in Christ's light. And they...we...delight Him. It is so humbling and joyful to consider this. It is so magnificent to imagine how much our Father loves us...how incredible He feels about us.

I want to leave some verses here that really comfort me, especially when things feel a bit overwhelming and hopeless (they never are hopeless though!)

 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

 - 1 Corinthians 15:55-58

I am hoping to think on this often.  When I consider the depths of my sin and what I deserve, this victory...this love hits me so hard, giving me more joy than a scribbled goldfish. I pray that God would give you all a deeper realization of what He has saved you from and how overwhelming His love is towards you (do the same for me!). 

Ahh! I will name the fish Victor. That's VEEK-tore!!! 

One more thing, I think I am going to use paint for the rest of my illustrations. Let me know if this is lame...