“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:14
The other night I was brushing my youngest son’s teeth and I started looking at his little nose. Random, I know. But it is pretty cute. And it made me start thinking about all that had to happen for his nose to form, while he was being fashioned in my womb. There are the little curves and split between nostrils and perfectly shaped little holes in his nostrils. They are tiny, but they make up an important part of our facial features.
I know it’s so easy to let life suck the joy and the praise out of us. This life can be so hard, and its issues overwhelming. And believe me, I don’t usually enjoy someone telling me of how much I have to be thankful for when I’m feeling discouraged. I want to answer back, “I know all that, and I am grateful for all of that – but things are still just hard!” And there’s a huge reality to that that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Sometimes we have a community that holds us up and helps us through just by listening and being present instead of trying to fix things. That's wonderful, when it happens. But other times, we have to find ways to help ourselves plow through the difficult. And I’ve found that taking a good look at our bodies can do this.
Yes, our bodies. Not in a vain way. Not in a critical way. But in a way that reminds us of the amazing way we were created. Think about it. Your heart keeps beating through the good and the hard days, while you are sleeping and while you are awake. You take involuntary breaths, and swallow when it’s necessary. You heal when you bruise or bleed, and your hair and skin knows when to shed dead cells and grow new ones. And you don't have to choose to do anything to make any of that happen!
You, my friend, are a masterpiece, and it’s not because of anything you have done. Instead, it’s due to a brilliant design that can only mean an amazing Designer. So when your world looks grey and you can’t find much to be thankful for, just look down at your own skin.
Your body can be a constant reminder that you have hope, and reason to praise. Because you are an amazing creation.
Know that. Claim that. And then let that give you hope in your amazing Creator today.
No comments:
Post a Comment