fearfully and wonderfully made…

You are special. 

Has anyone ever told you that? 

I don’t mean something stupid and completely anit-PC (that’s for politically correct not personal computer in case you were raising your eyebrows at me) like “special ed.”

You are one of a kind.

And created for a purpose. To do good things. You are uniquely hand-crafted.

A one of a kind original. A masterpiece in the eyes of your Creator.

I guess the better question is not whether or not you have ever been told these things, but more…have you ever believed it? 

Has your heart ever soared with the freedom only birds know at the heart’s acknowledgement of how wonderful you are?

If not…I hope that one day your heart will accept this…because it is oh so true about you.

One time we noticed that they were saying “I praise you because you are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

And the show had to stop. Kristin, our sweet missionary friend, quickly interrupted and shouted “WHO!!? Who is wonderfully made!!? YOU are! It is not ‘You are’ it is ‘I am!'” 

Silence…and then “I prrraise you because I…“

One day as I stood in the middle of the room and listened to this incredible truth being shouted by a hundred voices, I began to cry. 

It’s true.

It’s true that I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

…it’s not just for children in Africa…it was for me too.

And oh what a mirror it was to hold up to my heart to ask, “do I really believe what I am proclaiming to these children?”

individuality…our virtue for the week.

We talked about Noah and Zacchaeus…and how special they are. Of course, they are special. We all know they’re stories. We all know how Jesus chose them.

But me?

I think one of the biggest things I learned that week was from these children…a lesson in genuineness. A lesson in joy. A lesson in contentment. A lesson in a grateful spirit. A lesson in appreciation. A lesson in thankfulness. A lesson in beauty.

(So…there wasn’t just one “biggest thing” …that’s not such a crime.)

We taught them bible verses, songs, and stories…

…and they taught me crystal clear genuineness. 

A cry to be who you are, know who you are, and love who you are…without comparison. Without question.

Every year my school has a picnic at Red Top Mountain. Our financial adviser (a retired marine) cooks us his own personal, hand-crafted, delicious barbeque…and we doing what therapists do best…we spend time enjoying one another’s company.

While there some of my friends were asking the boy about his interests, life, ‘n such. When he said that he just “wasn’t an engineer,” she (being such the great soon-to-be-therapist that she is) asked him a very crucial, critical, and legitimate question…

Without missing a beat she asked…

“So who are you?”

The kids taught us a song…it went like this…

“I’m a soldier in the army

I’m a soldier in the army

I’m a soldier in the army

I’m a soldier in the army of the Lord.”

Who am I? …I’m a soldier.

This sweet lady…she’s a mom. A teacher. A giver. A (rightfully) proud woman. A God-fearing, sweet spirit. A hard worker. A server.

And this guy. This guy is a leader. A chosen leader by those who follow him. A gift. A teacher. A care-taker. A really incredible big brother. And a guy who when asked how he is doing will always tell you he is doing, “so so good.”

So take a lesson from Ngaamba…and ask “who am I?” Who is this person that is so wonderfully made?

Could it be true that all of His works are wonderful?

My friend…the answer is yes.

Do you know that “full well?”