OH MY GOD!

Have you ever said, “Oh my God!” and considered what those three words mean? Have you ever thought of that phrase as an expression of gratitude? How do we show our gratitude when we are truly grateful?

One night in the desert I saw a marvelous sunset, its vibrant colors on fleecy clouds in a clear and changing sky with deepening reds, yellows and blues. It was a sight only God could create in such grand fashion. I quietly said, “Oh my God!” because it was so beautiful and so fleeting.

“Oh my God!” a teenager says. I have often been critical of hearing those words flippantly spoken, yet they can have great meaning. Something worthwhile was seen, a connection made to cause us to cry out to our Creator, “Oh my God!”

Sometimes our day starts out grey and chilly, but ends with a warm display of brilliance we could not have imagined. Today is God’s gift, and this very moment it is the only thing we can truly own. Today has such great value to our existence that gratitude to Him should be our response.

Today we will experience life, our own and the lives of others. Let’s open our eyes and see the sky and the weather. It is wondrous and ever changing. Look at the faces of the people you meet. They are unique, original and perhaps interesting, and you have eyes to see them. Millions cannot see with eyes like yours, for their world is darkness.

Turn on the faucet and see the clean water coming out, hot or cold, and realize many millions do not have this gift you take for granted. Smile at a friend and realize for just a moment the value of that person smiling back at you. Perhaps they like you, maybe even love you.

God loves you forever through Jesus, His Son. If you can count even a few small blessings in your life, then let your gratitude overflow to others around you, and also to your Creator. Then it is most appropriate to say, “Oh my God!”

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)

God loves to hear us call out to Him, no matter when it is.