Jenni Holder

A friend of mine took a picture drawn by her eight-year-old, put it in a frame, and hung it on a wall in their home. When her son saw his artwork framed and displayed, he was elated. His little heart inherently knew that the frame meant something. The four small pieces of wood communicated importance, and care, and love to him.

Frames do that: they draw attention and encourage us to notice things we usually might not. Frames prompt recollection and give significance to otherwise ordinary things. Frames communicate value.

Interestingly, God frames things too.

Once Jesus took His disciples to the temple. There He sat them down and asked them to notice the thing no one else was noticing, a widow giving from her heart all she had.

“And he sat down opposite the treasury
and watched the people putting money into the offering box.
Many rich people put in large sums.
And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.
And he called his disciples to him and said to them,
‘Truly, I say to you,
this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.
For they all contributed out of their abundance,
but she out of her poverty
has put in everything she had, all she had to live on’.”
Mark 12:41-44

Jesus saw what others did not. Jesus framed the widow. He asks us to do the same.

Children are amazing at this practice of framing. Just try going on a hike with a toddler — they notice everything. Every bug, stick, rock, and leaf is worthy of a pause. It’s important enough to share with you so you can join in their inspection.

Similarly, God notices us — Psalm 139 is a great example. He places us in His frame as He pays attention to every detail of our lives, communicating value, and care, and love for us.

Some questions to ponder:

What does it mean to be noticed and framed as beloved by God, and how might we notice Him in return?
Is the practice of noticing, of framing difficult for you? How might you develop it?
How has a time of being noticed by God, or by another affected you?

Jenni first published this article on Overflow, a ministry of Train-Develop-Care, The Navigators.
January 14, 2025