Hi everyone, it’s Tania, and welcome to the Moms for Christ podcast!

Recently, I was thinking of a time my daughter repeated something her dad jokingly said about her friend’s family member. When she repeated what was said, her friend did not find it funny. In fact, she sternly said, “That is not who she is.” My husband and I apologized and quickly had to explain that it was meant as a joke, and it should not have been said, and definitely not repeated. What really struck my heart was the way my daughter’s friend responded. She did not try to defend her family member or even try to win us over; she simply stood on who she knew her family member was, and she was not going to change, because she knew her family member. She had spent so much time with that person that she knew her character.

"To taste— or to know— God is to see His goodness in everything."

In Psalms 34:8, the Word says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” To taste— or to know— God is to see His goodness in everything. This week, Ryann was reading the story of Cain and Abel. In the story, Cain brings the Lord an unacceptable offering. He becomes jealous when the Lord looks on his brother Abel’s offering with favor. When the Lord saw that Cain was angry, He asked him why he was angry. The Lord told him to bring an acceptable offering and it would be accepted. The Lord also warned him that sin was crouching at his door and it was sin’s desire to have him.

"...just like a good Father, he desires to watch over us and protect us."

In the story, God could’ve just killed Cain because of his offering, and He would have been just. He could’ve chosen not to interfere at all. Instead, the Lord showed concern for Cain and even warned him. I cannot help but see God’s goodness! The more you come to know, or taste, all of the Lord’s wonderful goodness, the more you begin to see He is good in everything. When we take refuge in Him and not ourselves, He protects us. We get a front row seat to seeing that goodness played out in our lives. When someone says anything contrary, we can stand on who we know Him to be.

"...no matter the outcome, He is good."

I want my children to learn to take refuge in the Lord because He is good, and just like a good Father, he desires to watch over us and protect us. And sometimes, He even warns us when He sees trouble ahead. I want my children to understand that no matter what is happening around them, when they take refuge in Him, no matter the outcome, He is good. As a parent, I want everything I say and do to reflect an understanding that God is good, even in the hard times. I have tasted His goodness. And, just like my daughter’s friend, I can stand on who I know Him to be.

Lord, thank You! Thank You that You are good and that You love us just as a good Father. Your desire is for us to know You, to let our lives reflect who You are, to let our lives reflect Your goodness. And Lord, I pray that if our lives don’t reflect Your goodness, please allow us the time to spend getting to know You because You are worthy. Amen.

God bless, and have a wonderful week! I will speak to you soon.