God Sees the Heart: What Spiders, Tax Collectors, and Hoodies Can Teach Us About Love

God uses the overlooked.

It’s easy to turn away from things we don’t understand — a trembling spider in the corner, a quiet child in a noisy classroom, or even the story of someone whose life looks nothing like ours.

But what if the things we avoid… are the very places God is speaking?

The Spider Who Shakes, Not Strikes

Cellar spiders — also called “daddy longlegs” — are gentle creatures. When they sense danger, they don’t attack. They shake their web rapidly to confuse predators. It’s not aggression. It’s fear. And yet, many people assume the worst  that they’re scary  dangerous something to get rid of. Sound Familiar?

 

The Tax Collector Jesus Chose

Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, was misunderstood too. As a tax collector, people looked down on him. But Jesus didn’t.

He saw Matthew’s heart. Just like HE see’s yours!

And He called him anyway — not after he changed, but right where he was.

Why This Matters for Our Kids

Kids feel misunderstood, too.

They get labeled. They get overlooked. They hear lies like:

“You’re not enough.”

“You don’t matter.”

“You’ll never fit in.”

But God’s voice is always near — speaking truth, even in the quiet moments.

That’s why we created Misunderstood Matthew, a Sunday series that helps children (and parents) fall in love with one of the most misunderstood creatures — the cellar spider. Through fun facts and biblical truth, we remember that even what scares us can reflect God’s beauty and design. We are reminded at the beginning of every week that those who often feel dismissed…are deeply loved!!

Cover Yourself in Truth

Sometimes, we need a physical reminder of God’s presence.

Our God Speaks hoodie is more than just cozy — it’s a message. A comfort. A covering in truth that says:

“You are seen. You are chosen. You are deeply loved.”

Shop the Hoodie Now → NEW DESIGN-GREAT COLOURS !

Let’s Teach Our Kids to Wonder

Each Sunday, we share a fun new fact about cellar spiders — paired with a biblical reflection to help kids see beauty in what they once feared.

Join us on Instagram at @KathleenBShineYourLight for this beautiful, faith-building journey.

And remember:

Even the misunderstood… are never forgotten by God.💫