A good idea - goodness

One of the stocking stuffers that we got this Christmas was a little collection of questions to talk about as a family. We took it with us yesterday when we visited a local donut shop. It sparked some interesting conversations. One question was "How would you like to be remembered by others?".

I was thinking about that this morning as I studied this week's Bible Lesson, God. The second section of the Lesson focuses on God as good. That seems like a simple enough concept but it brings deep and satisfying thoughts when one really can see and accept and understand that God is good and that His creation, including each of His children, is also good by reflection, as His image and likeness.

That would be a nice way to have others describe one...as good. How would you behave around someone you thought of as good? Would you be less likely to use bad language or bad behavior? Would you seek out the company of someone you think of as good? Would they inspire you to be a better person yourself? God is all of that and more. The Bible is filled with examples of God's goodness to all and His 'tender mercies', even to those who do not seem to deserve it. Jesus spoke of God as his Father. He uses that unconditional love in his parable of the Prodigal Son and his wonderful descripton of the Good Shepherd.

The Scriptures open with a spiritual creation where God sees everything that He has made and it is very good. Do we take this to heart and see our univese filled with good and goodness? This second section also includes this from Mrs. Eddy, "God, good, being ever present, it follows in divine logic that evil, the suppositious opposite of good, is never present". Think of that! What an important part of our daily prayer for ourselves and the world. To understand that good is ever present and evil is never present. That can seem like a challenge when the headlines are filled with details of disaster and tragedy.  So the 'strong claim of Science for the supremecy of God' may take some deep prayerful work.

In my own spiritual growth this year I would like to understand my own goodness, the goodness God is pouring out on His creation, the goodness I reflect as His child. To see good and goodness everywhere and in every one.

This is the perfect day, this first day of 2013, to strive for and demonstrate good.