Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

This scripture in its entirety hangs in my daughter's room as a reminder of who she is in the eyes of the King of Kings.  She was created and designed to be unlike anyone else on the planet so that she alone could accomplish works for the Master which no one else could ever do quite like her.  The very things she feels are her "problems" are in fact what makes her even more fearfully and wonderfully made.

She has always been small in size, which to many was seen from her very beginning as a negative.  On the contrary God has used her size to her advantage.  Because she is petite people take notice when they hear her speak for her intellect far exceeds her years.  They ask her how old she is which gives her an audience and a platform to be heard.  What may have been seen as a negative God uses as the very thing which attracts people into her arena of attention.

She prefers working alone and hates large crowds of people.  "Oh, this is not good for her." we have heard over the years.  "She needs to be with other kids more!" is another we have grown to ignore.  The fact is that God created in her a personality which thrives from independent work which He then uses in amazing one-on-one ways.  The fact is she likes all age people.  Her best friend this summer was a 75 year old woman at the pool who she talked with and exchanged gifts with.  She also loves small children and they love her back.  And don't get me started on her numerous "college aged" friends who adore her.  She asked me one day why people thought all her friends had to be her age and I told her I wasn't sure. 

She doesn't like athletics.  Now, in her defense she has tried soccer, cheer-leading, and volleyball at some point throughout her childhood only to discover none of these activities gave her heart joy.  She is a creative spirit who loves pottery, baking, collecting crazy things, crafting, painting, and more.  She's also incredibly talented at creating video tutorials on just about anything. What I love is that unlike most kids her age, she shares the things she creates or bakes with others in our apartment building or neighborhood.  Now that's special.

And finally there's having Tourette Syndrome.  To learn more about this visit this link http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/tourette/index.html.  Due to this disorder she has involuntary "tics" or movements.  As well as the physical issues that accompany this disorder she also combats things such as anxiety and obsessive compulsive behaviors.  And due to the anxiety and not to mention having a dad who has fought for his life against heart failure for the past 9 years, she has separation anxiety which she is constantly made fun of for from others.  The way in which she handles all this is just incredible.  She has overcome great odds. But what's hard are those who don't know how to handle it.  When family and educators don't "get it" it can cause great pain for her which stays with her.  Being made fun of because of things you cannot help is heartless and should never happen, but it has.  I believe that God will use her pain and being misunderstood by so many as a catalyst for helping others with Tourette Syndrome in the future.

So I end today by saying that God allows me to raise young lady who I know He will continue to use in BIG ways.  I also pray that she understand HE thinks she is fearfully and wonderfully made and because of that His love and support is eternal.