Every Hair and Every Freckle
The summer sun first sprinkled light brown freckles across the bridge of my bunny-sized nose during the season of my girlhood. Each year brings a few more to my body. My arms, shoulders, and back all wear tiny spots hand made by the life-sustaining ball of fire. I like my freckles, but I give them little thought. In fact, when I wear makeup, the ones on my face are barely visible.
Still new to the world, my preschool age daughter delights in daily discoveries. She studiously examines Gods creation, especially delighting in the nuances of plants, animals, and humans. Last summer, while we stood on our porch tending to the small potted herb garden, she asked me question after question. Some were easy: ”Does Basil taste yummy with pasta?” Some questions challenged me: “Why did God make mosquitoes so mean?” After she finished the nature portion of the quiz, she touched my face, wrinkled her nose and asked, “Are those little spots on your face dirt?”
I summed up my freckle explanation by adding, “You dont have any freckles. Maybe God will use the sun to paint some on your face one day.”
“Mommy! I already have a freckle right here on my arm.”
Without hesitation, my girl with pristinely porcelain skin that is almost always lathered with sunscreen, extended her right arm to show off a pin-point-sized freckle, or perhaps mole, on the inside of her elbow. I nearly gasped. Not because she had a cute little freckle, but because she knew she had one.
Toddlers and preschoolers are very aware of their bodies. They study their faces, limbs, belly and hair. And, they conduct their research of self without contempt. My daughter’s freckle hunt bears little resemblance to my fat finding expeditions. She loves every bit of her petite, 39 inch frame and joyfully boasts, ”I’m so beautiful because God made me.” She is beautiful indeed.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Fathers will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV
As I think of my daughter’s self awareness, I am reminded of Gods attention to every detail of my body. I couldnt give you a freckle estimate, much less an accurate count, but God can tell you the numbers of freckles on my body and when each of them arrived. He can even say the number of combined freckles plastered on every human body that ever existed. Were part of His creation. And He loves every part of us.
The Holy one who can count the hairs on my head, moles on my back, and creases on the soles of my feet, also comprehends every thought circling my mind, and each feeling beating within my heart. He made me. He knows me. He wants me to delight in Him as He delights in me. And He loves me like no other. That brings a whole new meaning to the word beauty.
Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire lifebody and soulin his hands. “What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detaileven numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries. Matthew 10:28 31 (The Message)
Who’s Your Audience?
Our youngest son Samuel has a few passions. One of those passions is ‘Star Wars’. It is very common to find Samuel pretending to be Luke Skywalker with his sister and friends in tow. Samuel and his friends love to have their light sabers attached to their belt loops as they run all around the yard. Thanks to my six year old son, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader have never been in such daunting situations.
Yesterday while the children were playing in our bonus room Samuel decided to try to copy a move he once saw Luke Skywalker make, a forward flip in the air with light saber in hand. What he ended up doing was a forward flop in the air, landing on his light saber with his head. He performed this stunt in front of an audience of six year olds and eight year olds. He bled quite a bit but thankfully he didn’t need stitches. What he did do was learn a valuable lesson…he is no Luke Skywalker.
It reminded me of a Bible study I did with my teenage daughter Meghan and her girlfriend this summer. If you were living your life on a stage, who would be in your audience?
I can tell you who is often in my audience. From time to time it is my husband Paul who is in my audience. Often times it is friends, family, neighbors, and people at church I am playing for. If we are Christians we should only be concerned with playing in front of an audience of one.
Jesus is sitting in the front row waiting to give each one of us a standing ovation. He is front and center waiting to cheer us on. He loves us so. As adults we can fall into the same traps that our children fall into…trying to impress people.
It took a light saber and my adorable son to remind me that there are no repeat performances in my life. I am going to make sure today that I am living my life for an audience of one. I want that standing ovation.
Be Still
My five-year-old daughter has quite a bit of energy. In fact, she almost never sits still. She is not the type to cuddle up on the couch and snuggle. She would much rather be running around the house or the yard. Many days I find myself saying to her, “would you please be still, just for a few minutes!” My husband says she’s just like me. She always has to be doing something.
A few days ago, she woke up early and came to my bedroom. I invited her to climb into my bed to snuggle. To my surprise, she did. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight. She actually let me rub her back, stroke her hair, and just love on her. I told her she was beautiful, smart and special, and I loved her more than anything. It was so sweet, and a nice change of pace from me chasing her around all the time. I loved the quiet time with her and I think she did too. But, it wasn’t long before she was up, out of the bed and running around again.
I began to think about this encounter with my daughter and my husband’s comment. She is just like me – never wanting to sit still – always doing something. I realized she is sometimes missing out on the love I so desperately want to lavish on her because she won’t be still long enough.
I wonder how many days I’ve missed out on the love my heavenly Father wants to lavish on me because I won’t be still in His presence. How many times have I missed hearing Him say “you are beautiful,” “you are special,” or “I love you more than anything”?
I think I will try harder to wake up early and enjoy a little “still” time with my Father. I don’t want to miss out on the love He so desperately wants to lavish on me.
Be still and know that I am God Psalm 46:10
