I am sure I am not the only mother who has noticed that almost every toy made and sold these days was mass produced in a singular country. I actually amuse myself with “trying” to find a toy in our playroom that was made in a unique place. I am extremely grateful for my children’s toys, they are all blessings {except maybe the obnoxious talking dump truck that likes to go off randomly in the middle of the night!} but some of the most cherished toys that we own were handmade.
There is something special about handmade things – they are unique, one-of-a-kind, made with painstaking detail, time, and energy. I think of the quilt my mother made my daughter before she was born, the colors and patterns chosen specifically as my favorites. A gift of a handcrafted clock that hangs in my son’s room boasts a detail of thinly painted stripes with outstanding intricacy.
On a daily basis, I joyfully share with my children that they too were “handmade” by God. For example, I help to point out the very design of their hands: four fingers and a thumb for grasping – brilliant. When my children were first learning the names of body parts – eyes, ears, hair, toes – my husband and I would always say, “God created your _____.” When I marvel at how fast my son can run across the backyard lawn I verbally give thanks that God created the very muscle in his legs and design of his bones to propel him forward.
You see, there will potentially come a day when the very essence of our children’s being will be challenged by this world. Our society is filled with messages about “not measuring up” and the insecurities that flow from the acceptance of this message can damage how they feel about themselves.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.
If we impress upon our children the foundational words of Psalm 139:13-14, they will be better equipped to combat the lies of the world with the truth about who they are found in the Word.
I pray that God will fill your week with many special moments to share the awesome reality with your child that they were indeed handmade by Him.
How do you purpose to share with your children the truth about who and whose they are?
Dr. Megan Osborne
For more resources and support in leading your children towards a healthy view of food and body image, connect with Dr. Osborne and her books at shapedwithlove.com
This post appears courtesy of Dr. Megan Osborne, through a generous grant from FINDINGbalance, Inc. For more tools + an amazing community of adults finding freedom and balance in the areas of food and body image, check out FINDINGbalance.
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