a word from adam: beautiful
The other day, Grayson (my 3 year old daughter) and I went looking at wild flowers. She wore a dress… head-to-toe in pink, as usual … just because she can. The flowers we found were … beautiful.I’ve always had a soft spot for flowers, but there’s something particularly beautiful about wildflowers. With each flower we found, I expressed how beautiful they were to Grayson. “This yellow one is beautiful. Look at this one. Isn’t it beautiful?” Each time I asked she’d smile and agree.The last flower we found was a simple wild rose. My favorite of them all. I said “Wow! This one is SO beautiful!” To which Grayson asked, “Beautiful like me daddy?” And I said “Yup, beautiful just like you Grayson!” In hearing my words, she glowed.In Genesis, we’re told the classic creation story. God created the heavens and the earth. The sun, the moon, the stars. Birds and animals of every kind. Each time … he stepped back and declared it was “good.” On the 6th day, though it was different, we’re told that God created man and woman in His very image. My favorite part … without even having to be asked, “God looked over all he had made, and he declared that it was very good!” That it was exceedingly great. (Gen1:31)It’s like He’s whispering to us, “You think the earth is amazing? You think the stars are breathtaking? You think the flowers are beautiful? I saved the best for last … you. You are very good!”A few thoughts:
- I love that Grayson associated “beautiful” with herself. I tell her that she is beautiful often. In the days ahead when she doesn’t feel beautiful or maybe isn’t treated as though she is … I pray she’d base her worth not on her feelings, but who she is … beautiful. (Parents, spouses, friends: Declare the positive attributes of those you love often!)
- Struggle with how you view yourself? Do you feel ugly, broken, worthless, dirty, used? I know at times I do. Ask our Father what He thinks! He never grows tired of answering our questions and declaring our great worth. He takes pride in doing so.
- There’s something powerful about holding on to God’s truths. I’d encourage you to write the following verse down on a notecard and carry it with you. Everything changes when our identity is based and founded upon our wonderful Creator and what He declares to be true about us.
