Something special…

Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to sit back and watch (unnoticed) as the girls played. Ever since preschool started, Toddler 1’s favorite activity is to play “school.” She, of course, is the teacher and Toddler 2, like it or not, is the lone member of her class. So, Toddler 1 had pulled the rocking chair out and was sitting in it indicating that she would be doing some sort of lesson. She got Toddler 2 all settled on the floor and then began her speech. Being a sponge, she said a bunch of things that I knew she had surely heard at church and in her own class the day before. This one, though, was my favorite:

Toddler 1 (leaning down from her perch in the rocking chair to instruct her sister, the “student”): “We don’t hit people because they are amazing to God.”

And, there you have it. In simple terms, that pretty much sums up why we should avoid being violent toward others… because they are amazing to God. (It would be nice if the “teacher” would take her own advice in regard to hitting her sister when she’s the least bit agitated, but that’s beside the point).

This week at preschool the 3-year olds are learning all about why they’re special. They’re supposed to bring in family pictures and talk about what makes each of them unique and different. They even have a little song they’re learning to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It:

I’m a very special person can’t you see
There is no one else who can be just like me
I am different than you
But you are special, too
I’m a very special person can’t you see

So, all of this is helping Toddler 1 and her young friends develop appropriate self-esteem and learn to appreciate one another’s differences and uniqueness. It’s good stuff when you’re three.

But, then we grow up and our perception starts to change. For most of us, somewhere between preschool and adulthood we forget that we’re special and “amazing to God.” Most of that truth gets drowned out by a culture that tells us something more along the lines of, “You could be special IF…” or “You will be special WHEN…” or, even, “What makes YOU so special?”

Here’s what I mean… While Toddler 1 was at preschool singing the special song this morning, I was at the dermatologist’s office for an annual check-up reading all about how I could have Botox, chemical peels, laser hair removal, laser vein treatment, microdermabrasion, or lash-lengthening therapies done to make me a little better… a little more special. (I was most tempted by vein treatment and lash-lengthening). But, anymore, we can’t even have a skin-cancer screening without being reminded that we should be doing something to enhance, or at least firm up, our appearance. And, this of course, isn’t only happening in the dermatology offices. Pick up any women’s magazine, peruse any bookstore, watch some TV, walk the mall… it’s rampant. The message is buy this, do this, wear this, undergo this… tweak, trim, tone,…THEN you’ll be set. You will arrive at “special” or at least at acceptable.

And, what we lose amidst all the sensory overloading demands our society throws at us is that foundational belief that we’re special simply because we are who God made us. We’re not special because of where we went to school, who we married, how many kids we have, how much money we make, how fit we are, how fabulous our appearance is, or who our friends are. The being special comes before the feats and accomplishments. We’re special just because we have life breathed into us by a loving Creator.

Only children really get it, but it’s true… we’re amazing to God.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
(Psalm 139:13-16, The Message)

So, Toddler 1 is right. We’re something alright. Something special.

And, we shouldn’t hit others because God thinks we’re amazing… and maybe also because it’s very unbecoming and not all that socially acceptable. 🙂