It’s the little things

Recently my friend Michael was telling me his brother and sister-in-law had moved to a different state. He had gone over to help them pack and to say goodbye. Michael then told me that as he was leaving his sister-in-law handed him a small bag and said, “Just something we won’t use.” Michael didn’t open the bag until he got home but when he did he was overwhelmed with emotion and brought to tears. In the bag was a box of sweetener packets, the kind he prefers in his coffee. Though he was sure they had never had a conversation about sweeteners Michael was just then realizing that each of the countless cups of coffee he had shared at his brother and sister-in-law’s home over the years was a demonstration of love, the kind of love grand gestures and declarations can never match. In that moment Michael understood that he was welcome, wanted and thought of even when he wasn’t around, even in the aisles of the grocery store.

Immutable

The characteristic of immutability points out that God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. This applies to every aspect of who He is and is the basis for the security and peace that we can live in when we know that His love for us doesn’t change based on either His mood or our performance. This means that He is never disappointed in us, we don’t let Him down, and He’s not embarrassed by us. These emotions or moods are the results of unmet expectations and God doesn’t operate that way.