**This post was scheduled to go out on Monday, but instead of
posting as scheduled, it had gone to draft. Sigh. Hope you enjoy it today.

One of my jobs as mom and early childhood educator is wiping sticky fingerprints off windows, tables, appliances. Those little fingers may be covered in paint, markers, Play Doh residue, or even bodily fluids. Don’t cringe–you know it’s true.

But you know what? I don’t mind those small fingerprints. Those children are learning to leave their marks on the world. Today they may be drawing four-fingered people with arms and legs coming out of lopsided heads, but tomorrow, those fingers may be holding pens signing laws into action, their autographs on published novels, contracts to better society–their possibilities are endless.

Turn your hands over and check out those swirls and whorls on the pads of your fingers. Amazingly, with the billions of people who populate this planet, no two fingerprints are alike. Mind blowing, isn’t it?

While someone may share your skin tone, hair or eye color, or body shape, no one will share your fingerprints. When God made you, He gave you a distinctive mark–one of His own choosing. Short of burning them off, there is no way of removing God’s identifying mark from your body.

Now think about God’s fingerprints. What do those look like? Again, those are identifiers unique to the only one true God. His fingerprints are imprinted all over. Look out the window at His artistic nature creations. Who else could create gorgeous blooming cherry blossoms and the three-toed sloth with the same hand?

What about God’s fingerprints in our lives? In our daily activities? In our writing? What do those look like? Our past experiences and the ways God has worked within our lives gives us boldness to recognize His fingerprints.

Think about your salvation moment. Mine came during the darkest time in my life. Yes, I wish I could take back some of the things I’ve said or done, but those actions helped identify God’s fingerprints in my life. He changed my heart for the better.

Think about your writing. When did you want to write for the first time? Have you recognized God’s fingerprints in your writing? No matter what phase you are in your writing, God’s fingerprints are all over your future or present career. The key is being able to recognize that and to have the courage to step out in faith to go where He is leading you.

Like those smudgey prints on the bathroom mirror or living room window, our pasts are smeared with stains of our sins. Shame drops us to our knees, but Grace lifts us up. Our actions, thoughts and attitudes can show God’s fingerprints in our lives if we allow Him to mold us and shape us into the people He desires us to be. I don’t know about you, but that’s one set of fingerprints I never want to wipe away.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 NIV

Your turn: Do you see God’s fingerprints in your life? In what way?