Image is Everything

I imagine our good father delighting in his work as he knits his children together in our mother's wombs. I imagine him carefully choosing each unique feature. From the shape of our pinky toe to the lines of our fingerprints, the color of our eyes to the color of our skin, and even counting each and every hair as he places it perfectly on our tiny heads. I imagine him picturing all of his children celebrating and rejoicing in our differences knowing that each one of us was created in his image, for a purpose, for such a time as this.


I imagine his heart breaking when the very children he delighted in creating segregate, isolate, fight, and even kill each other based on something meant to bring such beauty and joy to our world. I imagine his heart breaking as He watches his kids place more importance on what culture says than what he says.

I imagine the heaviness he must feel as his children succumb to the devil's schemes. Like a wolf in a flock of sheep, the devil distracts and divides, devouring everything he can. Leaving blood-stained wool and open wounds, planting lies, and most of all stealing peace and hope.

But I imaging our loving father anticipating our prayers and humility. I imagine him responding with the hope and reconciliation only he can offer. I imagine the supernatural heart-healing only he can do after such sin and pain have been exposed. I imagine Him crushing the head of our oppressor under his mighty heel.

At last, I imagine a world where his children lean on him in unity, celebrating differences, as we love one another as ourselves. I imagine a world where our identity is so rooted in our maker that broken and imperfect narratives no longer tell our stories and the only agenda we have is loving God and our brothers and sisters. I know I will have to wait until I get home to heaven to experience this fully, but as for me and my family, we will do everything we can to bring heaven to earth, here and now.

Our AmiraRose and her best friends celebrating her 9th birthday!