I need all the help I can get to remember to reconnect to God throughout my day. One way I do this is to try to notice “God Incidents.” What I mean by God incidents are certain experiences God showed His love for me in a specific way. Just like parents love to give little surprises to their children and grandchildren, so God likes to delight us in unique and special ways. These are small ways that demonstrate God knows you and what simple things delight you. One example of a God Incident recently was when I found a flamingo feather. 

My granddaughter lost her goose feather after we had been feeding the geese at the pond near her home. I was leaving for Mexico soon and I comforted her by telling her that while I was in Mexico, I would collect feathers for her to replace the goose feather that was lost. I picked up a few but the pink flamingo feather would add so much beauty to my collection. I went on a tour to see the flamingos and looked diligently in the water while enjoying the incredible sight of literally thousands of flamingos congregated in a natural environment. I knew that God knew how much I wanted that feather for my collection, but it wasn’t meant to be. 

The next day I had another boat excursion that would include seeing flamingos but there would not be as many and there were other stops on this trip. I didn’t have high hopes, but I wondered if I could find one and I did. I was thrilled. It was stinky and full of mud, but I was sure that I could clean it and make it beautiful. I was so thankful to God. My verse for the year is John 1:16 “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” I felt the grace of that moment and was filled with joy. I would call that a God Incident, but it was so much more.

I wanted to take the sea boat trip and we had arranged to be there at 8 a.m. to catch the tour which would give us enough time to check out of our hotel. Because my husband did not listen to me and get water the night before, he had to find a place open to buy water for our trip. I arrived a few minutes before eight and the boat was letting the anchor go. The man we had made these arrangements with was now trying to manipulate us into getting a private boat and when we didn’t want to do that, he didn’t want to work with us. My year verse came into my mind…grace upon grace. I wanted to be mad at my husband for not listening to me and I wanted to be mad at the man for not keeping his word as I had arrived before 8. I listened to the Holy Spirit and showed grace to both. My husband saw another man from another section of the beach that we had not noticed before who give the same tour. He had another couple that we could share the boat. It was amazing because the other couple spoke some English and could explain things for us. But what was most amazing of all was after we saw the flamingos that this captain took out handfuls of flamingo feathers and presented them to the two women. He also found dolphins that we could admire on our way home.  I knew that this captain was the best captain around and had it worked out that we took the other boat I probably would not have had the same experience. The bouquet of flamingo feathers was God’s grace upon grace. 

The truth about God’s grace is that even if I had gotten mad at my husband or the man, God’s grace still flows. I just don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much because I would have felt bad about myself and how I had acted. I love the benefits of grace. I love the rewards of grace. I love how God emphasized the message of grace that He pointed out for me to focus on this year in such an unexpected way. I will spend the year, looking for God incidents, but also noting opportunities to give grace as well as how many times I am given grace. You have God incidents in your days as well, do you notice them? Do they change you? Do they give you hope to connect deeper to God?