I was recently on vacation at the beach, and I found myself searching for tiny starfish that would wash up on the shoreline. These little creatures were so small and helpless. If I set them down in the shallow water they would be tossed among the waves, but if I placed them at the water's edge, they might be eaten by seagulls.

In observing the starfish, I realized that starfish and people are very similar. At a certain point, we come to realize how imperfect we truly are and how slowly we progress on the way to perfection through the virtues. It can be discouraging at times, but as I watched the starfish, I was greatly comforted. How slow starfish are, as well! As I looked at the starfish, I seemed to glimpse the way God looks at us. How adorable and beautiful we are in His eyes. How cute we are as His little children. How He smiles at us and is filled with joy as He looks at the beautiful creations He has made. Our tiny progressions on the way to perfection are not annoying or not good enough, but rather they make God proud of us for our continual striving despite our weakness and littleness. How He roots for us as we plug along! As I looked at the starfish, I realized how truly little we all are, but I saw how beautiful this littleness is, for it is in this littleness that we may rely on God and place all our confidence in His help, instead of in ourselves. He loves us as we are, and He knows our capabilities and our limitations. It is because of this that we can be gentle with ourselves as we continue on our journey to Him, for He understands our weaknesses and loves us as we are.

These little starfish taught me that as God's creatures, we really have very little control, but how comforting and freeing that is! Starfish frequently are tossed about in the waves, unable to latch on to anything. Just like little starfish, we are God's beloved creatures. He looks down on us, caught in the waves and reaches out to us. He doesn't just observe us, but He provides a safe refuge for us. His presence calms the storm. God provided these starfish with the water they needed and the proper environment to survive. It's just as Jesus says to look at the creatures of the world and all the Father provides for them; "Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matt 6: 26). How beautiful it is to be little and not in control, for it is then that we can have confidence in our loving Father! We may rest assured that as we toss about without control, we are held in the Father's hands. We may not have control, but He does, and it is much more comforting that the One who knows what is best for us is in control than if we, who know so little and are much too short-sighted, were instead. We may be at peace knowing that our God is the God whom "even the winds and the waves obey" (Matt 8:27).