If you see something that sparks joy, check your heart, God may be revealing a part of His heart for you. I live by this, experiencing object lessons big and intimately small. My artwork is an extension of these joy sparks.

For example, this painting of two geese flying over the rooftop resulted from such a spark. I was out to my daughter’s house in the country, getting into my car, when two geese grazed the rooftop, honking merrily as they flew by. I was taken back several years to when we were raising our three kids in that house and my husband brought home a goose egg found abandoned on the neighboring golf course. A few times that summer and several since, geese have either landed on the roof, walked leisurely through the yard, or flown low and honking overhead. Each time we would make up a story of how they were relatives of the lost egg and were in search of it. It was a little family story we enjoyed together. The egg remains in the house and the stories continue.

Thinking through this story, I wondered what it was that made me want to paint those two geese and just what was God revealing of Himself to me. Here it is: honking geese evoke in me a sense of family simply enjoying life together; enjoying one another with laughter and a little mystery. I cherish the good memories and being reminded of one of them made my heart smile and inspired me. Remembering.

Psalm 77:11 says, “But then I recall all You have done, O Lord; I remember Your wonderful deeds of long ago.” We have been given the ability to remember deeds of old. Not all deeds are worth reflecting upon, but the good deeds of the Lord certainly are. Joy sparked by a family memory is a gift; in turn, giving attention to the ultimate purpose of memory, thinking upon the good deeds of God, is a blessing that burrows deep into my soul.

I could choose to let the spark of joy flit off and be forgotten as a seemingly frivolous moment in time. Sometimes that may happen, not everything needs to be spiritualized, some things are meant just for the moment. However, nurturing sparks into flames of fire for God and His sovereignty grows my faith, deepens my love for Him, and in turn, melts my heart for sharing His love for us all.

May you experience more of God’s Joy-sparks today. – Kristy