ALL

 ⁹ The LORD is good to all; 
   he has compassion on all he has made. 
¹⁰ All your works praise you, LORD; 
   your faithful people extol you. 
¹¹ They tell of the glory of your kingdom 
   and speak of your might, 
¹² so that all people may know of your mighty acts 
   and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 
   and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises 
   and faithful in all he does. 
¹⁴ The LORD upholds all who fall 
   and lifts up all who are bowed down. 
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you, 
   and you give them their food at the proper time. 
¹⁶ You open your hand    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.-Psalm 145:9-16


What a great Psalm!  Throughout the entire 21 verses the word "all" is used 12 times... good to *all*... endures through *all* generations... upholds *all* who fall... lifts up *all* who are bowed down.  


How wonderful to know that no one is left out. How good to know that all any of us need do is cry out and God will destroy the wickedness within us. 


It can be easy to believe that God only blesses those who are like ourselves... that he only cares about those who believe the same things we do in the same ways we do.  But God created variety.  Think of the animal kingdom... zebras, elephants, platypuses (hmmm... platapi?); birds from tiny finches to majestic eagles; and under the sea you can find some of the most incredible looking creatures of all.


Human beings are so much more complicated!  We may not be quite so different in appearance, but our experiences, up-bringing, environment, genetics, traditions and ethnic roots give us differences that range just as greatly.  And God loves those differences in us as much as he loves the variety of the rest of his creation.


Maybe one day we will learn to celebrate this wonderful variety instead of fearing it.  Maybe one day we will understand that God really does love us *all*.


Father,
Help us to celebrate the variety in creation, especially in people.  Teach us to truly love and accept one another.  Amen.


Joys: aroma of coffee in the morning; getting to babysit Cecelia today; lower humidity