Ordinary Time 
Pause
It’s an important part of your identity, going to the root of who you are. It speaks to where you come from and, to a large degree, where you are going.
So whose child are you?
Since God is our source, we are children of God, made to be loved and to thrive. In these next few moments, consider who has birthed you into the world and who is nurturing you along the way.
Listen
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one.
Isaiah 44:6–8
Think
This week, we’re going to be thinking more about what it means to be God’s child. But it’s important to begin with first things first, such as, whose child are we? The writer of today’s Scripture clearly tells us more about the character of our heavenly Parent. God is the first and the last of all of creation. There is no other God but God. And we are not to fear, for God is with us!
Some of us have had great experiences with our earthly parents; others have not. Some of us have parents we’ve never even met. But no matter what images the word parent brings up for us, we are asked to put these experiences aside and trust that God is who God is. We can trust that God’s love is everlasting and God’s care for us is boundless. Most of all, we can lean on our heavenly Parent through the good times and the bad.
Isaiah asks us to think of God as our rock, what grounds us when everything else shakes. As we begin our day with this foundation, we’re off to a good start!
Elizabeth Evans Hagan
Pray
Holy God, you are more amazing than even the best parents I have ever known. You never fail me. Remind me today that I can trust you to be my rock! Amen.
Go
Strong, gentle children, God made you beautiful, gave you the wisdom and power you need; speak in the stillness all you are longing for; live out your calling to love and to lead.
From “Strong, Gentle Children” by Dan Damon
