Beautiful You

Psalm 139:14 "I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Sometimes my heart literally stops when I see someone put so much effort into the tiny details on something so imperfect, like a child's artwork, because I realize that's precisely how God is with us. In His eyes, we're perfect and our tiny details are important, but in anyone else's eyes we're imperfect and ridiculous.

When we look in the mirror, all we see are our flaws and the society we live in goes out of their way to make each and everyone of us feel inadequate. Thankfully, our worth doesn't come from what we think we should look like or where we fall short of our culture's standards. Our worth comes only from our Creator. We're made in the image of the perfect God; imperfect murky reflections with a purpose to glorify Him.

Yesterday, I spent some much needed time with two close friends of mine before I leave for college at the end of the week and, as I think of this verse, I can't help but think of the two of them. Their personalities are rare and beautiful - strength, determination, kindness, love, perseverance, and the desire to reach the absolute height of their potential. The thing that really brings them to mind with this verse, though, is the way that so many people underestimate them and look down on them as "weak" and pathetic creatures simply because they have wheelchairs, crutches, and an oxygen vent. The way I see it, God is bigger than a wheelchair.

On so many occasions, I've seen these two girls and their stories touch so many lives and seen the power of God revealed in their daily lives. I'm so amazed by the miraculous things God has done in these two girls' lives: the unexpected disappearance of a supposedly terminal lung cancer, the strength that is slowly seeping back into immobile legs, the ever-present smile that can brighten even the darkest day, and such a huge heart full of love for the very people who scoff and poke fun. I am amazed at how God has taken seemingly hopeless situations in their lives and worked them to His glory.

So praise God for how He made you, no matter your imperfections. He's going to use you for His glory and you will be an amazing blessing to those around you, like a child's painting in the hands of her mother.