Telling One Another Our Dumb Stuff

God and I have a thing with ladybugs.

He once landed one on my car window just so as my husband and I drove away from our infant daughter who remained under the watchful eye of our hospital’s NICU. I didn’t miss it.

The day the Lord urged me to a friend’s doorstep to quit beating around the bush and share the gospel with her—yep, there was one at the threshold of her front door.

Bad days, down days, days where I can’t quite put my finger on where the empties are coming from—it’s probably time to stop acting surprised when the ladybugs show up.

A friend told me she and God have a thing with red birds. Another has a connection with paperclips. For a friend of a friend its one solo penny lying on the ground. Don’t you know I pray for them every time I see one? And yet I feel the sillies when I tell someone about the ladybugs. Why am I afraid to share the one thing that feels dumb yet means so much? Is it because it means so much?

The truth of the matter is whenever someone tells me their “dumb thing,” I lean in a little closer and focus a bit more.

When we tell one another our dumb stuff, it serves two purposes: first, as a point of connection, and second, as a point of remembrance both of one another and of the God who loves and cares for His children. Sharing your dumb thing with a friend—old or new—is an invitation to connection and creativity. When my paperclip friend was nervous about giving a talk in front of a large group it was the perfect opportunity to place a couple of paperclips on her notebook and at the podium. When I saw a field with multiple cardinals, it was clearly the time to text my friend and tell her I must be intended to be praying for her right at that moment.

We aren’t the first to be in need of remembrances of God’s faithfulness. After Israel crosses the Jordan, God commands Joshua to have men from the people place stones “that this may be a sign among you” (Josh. 4:6), “So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” (Josh. 4:7) How many times did any regular ole’ Jane of an Israelite need to look over her shoulders and be reminded of the presence of the stones and the work of God? And how many regular ole’ Jane Israelites needed a friend to tap them on the shoulder on occasion, and point to those very stones? I’m guessing the answer was frequently.

I love dorky stuff. And I have this inkling God does too. So bring it on. Tell your people your things with God. Invite them in to be a part, honor them with the trust demonstrated in your telling, and invite both of you to be reminded of the myriad of ways God faithfully shows us Himself in the little items of life. I want to be the kind of friend who turns “This sounds dumb” into “I’m so glad you told me.”

There are no misplaced ladybugs.

In the midst of all the current turmoil, how kind of God that here comes the season where the ladies will be out in full force, doing what they do and reminding me I have a loving Father who must feel the same way I do about a great polka dot.

xo, Holly from @hollymacklebooks