Created to be Unique

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made:

marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.

~ Psalm 139:14

Each of us are uniquely different. We may be similar in some ways to others, but God designed each of us in our own unique way. Each person is a one-of-a-kind unique creation of the Almighty Creator.

Just look in your immediate family to see all the wonderful differences God has created. God has made each of us in a special way creating a beautiful collage for each unique home and family. We each were created for our individual plans and purposes in our lives.

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me]. Psalm 139:1

When dealing with and raising small children, while we teach them many things, we must become the students of them, to search them out, in order to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, to understand them and to help them grow into their God-given potential.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,

thou understandest my thought afar off. Psalm 139:2

Yesterday I was finishing up the baths with the girls and our 4 yo had just gotten out and was wrapped in a towel drying when my husband called as he often does in the late afternoon on his break at work (what a good man!), but yesterday he called later than usual and what proceeded from there was pure chaos!

Lexi at the moment I got on the phone and was trying to hear her father and be a good helpmeet to him was running around toweless screaming in delight with her little 18 month old sister in tow. Both of them were just being kids, honestly, running back and forth up and down the hall into the computer room and back to my bedroom screaming in delight. Lexi was pretending to be "chased" by her sister when all signs pointed to the fact that she was "leading" her sister in this game.

My response was to discipline and correct her and the end result was time out and a long adult discussion on why we don't act that way especially when mommy is on the phone followed by more discussion on "was she sure she understood" and how she was "never to act that way again". We have been trying to teach her that when mommy or daddy is on the phone little girls must be quiet and wait patiently. After about 18 months of this training (ever since her sister was born and mommy started staying home with them permanently) she has had this training, but for some reason it is not sinking in ... or I am not understanding how to train her in this ...

For [there is] not a word in my tongue, [but], lo,

O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Psalms 139:4

In the midst of my looooonnnng talk with her she just said innocently, "sometimes mommy I have to act that way, I can't help it". Somewheres in the back of my mind I thought about her personality test I did for her the other day and one of her inherent "weaknesses" was "being too loud, talking loudly".

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!

How great is the sum of them! Psalm 139:17

This is who God made my daughter to be. I am not one of those permissive moms of this day and age who I see who can just sit back and "let their personality run wild" as to not "squelch their character growth". No, I am who I am because that is who God made me to be too! And somewhere I understand for my family there has to be boundaries and respect and rules that have to be followed. I tried my best to get that through to her that there was a time for loud running and hollering (preferably outside, right?), but certainly not when I am on the phone. Running around and playing and being a genuine kid, that is not the problem or issue, the timing of it was. And in typing this I'm not sure that is what she heard. I certainly don't want to squelch her childlikeness, but doing it at the precise moment I pick up the phone, that was the problem.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if [there be any] wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

I don't know if she ever "got it" ... we will see the next time the phone rings (or perhaps set up "phone etiquette" training sessions) ... but we must be students of those we want to encourage and have an influence with ~ it is of eternal value to train these little ones and in how we train. Ask God for wisdom above all and to lead you in the "way everlasting", into everlasting life with Him as we talked about yesterday!

" ... when I awake, I am still with thee ..." Psalm 139:18

Tomorrow morning we will look at four steps we can take to be the wind in somebody's sails.


Bless and be blessed,
Michelle