“Find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness.”  Henry B. Eyring 

A few days ago I had the chance to consider with a couple of my kids where we had seen the greatness of God in our lives that day. 

One child saw it in a rec basketball team that came together with everyone’s best efforts in a hard-fought, sportsmanlike game to win by a margin of a single basket.  

Another saw it in a group of teenagers who have come together across a variety of social strata around a common interest to create an environment where everyone is welcome, accepted, and cheered on. 

I saw it in the coaches, teachers, and mentors who were voluntarily giving generously of their own energy, time, expertise, and resources to make space for amazing growing opportunities for my own children and my nieces and nephews, along with many other young people. 

In each of these cases, we saw the greatness of God through simple, meaningful connections with others.   

In fact, I found myself remembering a familiar scripture verse: 

“And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). 

That day, we tasted a little bit of Zion on the basketball court, in high school classrooms, and in various recital halls. I was overwhelmed at the ways I felt God’s love pouring into my heart, simply because of the ways I saw others showing up as one for and with the people I love. 

With February in the books, maybe it’s worth looking back at the month to remember what meaningful connections you’ve had with others, and to look for God’s greatness in them.  I find they very often go hand-in-hand for me.

“Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him.”  Henry B. Eyring