The Miracle
Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
NIV
Tundra, Glacier and Juneau sit atop a white furry rug tucked into an old
fashioned red baby sleigh. These beautiful Inuit babies, all snug in their
beaded, fur trimmed parkas, pants and boots look and feel just like the real
thing even though they are only dolls. Designed and handmade by an artist from
Alaska they radiate pride of workmanship, love and skill. Each one is so
uniquely different from the other, yet so much alike with their liquid brown
eyes, tawny skin and thick black hair. What a wonderful gift to be able to
create such lifelike models of the real thing, what a feeling of fulfillment and
joy each one must have brought to the heart of their craftsman.
As I look at these three dolls I am reminded of the fact that each and every one
of us is a miracle. A miracle meant to radiate the pride of workmanship, love
and skill emanating from the likeness of God within us. I am awed by the thought
of how God must have felt when he created the first man and woman, and how he
must rejoice and be glad beyond compare each and every time a new baby is
conceived, carried to term and birthed. For he who created our inmost being, he
who knit us together in our mother’s womb, he who viewed our frame when we were
being made in the secret place, he is the one who loves us more than life
itself. Therefore should it not make sense that when we who are created by the
Lord God of all creation, choose to accept and love ourselves for the wonderful
miracle which we are, should this not be one of the greatest praises of all
which we can offer up to our heavenly Father? And yet how often do we despise
our humanity, our failures, our bodies, our minds, our personalities and our
genetic make- up? How often do we forget that it was for this our Saviour died;
for fallen, fragile, yet still gloriously god-like humanity?
Today we each have a brand new opportunity to share in a miracle: the miracle of
the creation of us. We have a fresh start to offer God the highest of praises as
we choose to embrace the joy He feels in each and every one of us, with whom He
shares his life giving breath. Yes, today we get another chance to praise or
reject the workmanship of our creator’s hand. Let us choose wisely.
Prayer: Father God how fearfully and wonderfully made we are and for this we
give you thanks and praise. Grant us joy in the life you have breathed into us,
that we might in loving both You and ourselves learn to love our neighbours with
increasingly Christ like fervour. In the wonderful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Lynne Phipps Atlin BC
lynnephipps@hotmail.com