The Mirror
"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 too wonderful, I know that full well. My frame
was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place."
(Psalm 139:13-15 NIV)
Hoss our wirehaired dachshund has a problem. Whenever he is on my bed and he
stands up and turns in a certain way he begins to bark frantically at the image
he sees in my dresser mirror. Even though he is no longer a puppy, he still does
not recognize himself in the mirror. This lack of recognition not only frightens
him, it sparks a series of distressing growls and the like. I have tried picking
him up and placing him directly in front of the mirror, but he refuses to look
himself in the eye and acknowledge who the image is really reflecting.
I have thought long and hard as to why Hoss, unlike the other dogs who learned
to recognize themselves early in puppyhood, still does not realize who he is
seeing in the mirror. I think that perhaps it is because he has been raised by
two Scotch collies. Denby and Belle have parented Hoss. He goes everywhere they
go and mimics their behavior. I have come to the conclusion that somewhere in
his doggy brain he sees himself as a collie. Thus his own reflection startles
him. He thinks it must be a strange dog that has somehow gotten into the house.
Unfortunately for Hoss until he has the courage to look himself in the eye in
the mirror and accept himself with delight for who he really is, he will never
feel safe or comfortable around this other dog.
Likewise, as people, we too can have a distorted or totally unrealistic image of
who we really are. For reasons too numerous to delve into many of us when
looking into a mirror view ourselves as ugly, fat, skinny, stupid, plain,
unpleasant, too short, too tall or in any number of other unflattering ways,
instead of seeing ourselves for who we truly are: fearfully and wonderfully made
by the Lord God of the universe. A fact of creation that makes us, each and
everyone, beautiful!
So, the next time you look into the mirror, don't be like Hoss. Rather, look
yourself square in the eye and begin to praise God for exactly the way he saw
fit to make you. As you continue to do so you'll be surprised at how quickly
your past image of who you are will begin to transform itself into whom you
truly are: a creation of godly beauty and love.
Prayer: Lord God, Wonderful Creator and Loving Father, thank you that we were
not hidden from you when we were formed in the secret place. Thank you that you
love us exactly as we are and know that we are creations of beauty and love.
Help us this day to put aside our preconceived ideas and to praise you for the
fearfully and wonderfully made people you have created us to be. In Jesus
precious name we pray. Amen.
Lynne Phipps Atlin, BC
lynnephipps@hotmail.com