All in a Game of Skip-Bo

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. ~ Romans 8:28-30

I’ve heard Romans 8:28 my whole growing up, as it was my mom’s favorite verse.  I was thinking about it again yesterday, in light of some recent teachings I’d heard.  I began to remember my Grandma Mary Erkilla, my mom’s mom, and how she loved to play cards.  We would play everything from Gin Rummy to Skip-Bo.  I remember when my cousins were just old enough that they could understand and grasp rules and so my grandma worked hard to teach them to play Skip-Bo, as they always wanted to play with us.  My grandma would sit them to her left—as play went to the left—so that what she did always benefited them.  Every time she would finish her turn she explained what she had done, reminded them of the cards they had in their hands and how the two working together would benefit them.  She always let them pick which card to play, so that they could learn.  But if it was going to be a very bad play for them, she would stop them and say, “Well let’s look at this,” and begin to point out how that one play would affect so many future plays.

Isn’t that what God does with us?  Doesn’t He send us teachers and friends to teach us things about Him and His Truths and then ask us to dig more into the Word and spend personal, quiet time with Him?  He allows us to make our own moves, but also sends the Holy Spirit to walk daily with us, giving us constant instruction to help mold and shape us, so that we begin to better reflect the image of His Son.

Thank you, Father God, for sending me friends and teachers, for my parents, my grandparents, my uncles and aunts, my cousins, and all the other relatives you have sent to help mold me to become more like You.  Lord, I pray that I will continue to draw closer and closer, so that I will be the best reflection of You, Lord.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.