I don’t like messes. So you can see how I was less than thrilled one morning when my then 5 year-old daughter Hannah, pointed out a small hot pink ink dot on my favorite lounge pants. “What is that on your pants?” she asked. I hadn’t noticed it before, and immediately began formulating what could be used to get the dreadful stain out.
“It sure is a BEAUTIFUL spot!” Hannah exclaimed with delight.
I sat stunned. I had immediately thought of it as a stain; something to be scrubbed out and vanished. But my daughter had seen something colorful and interesting.
Maybe, when I see a part of my character as a stain, something dirty and ugly and desperately needing to be blotted out, God sees a beautiful spot, something colorful that He can work with and incorporate into the mosaic of experiences and encounters that is my life.
So when I threw my pants in the laundry basket later that day, I made a decision. I decided not to try to get the stain out, but to send the pants through the laundry as they were – “stained” with a beautiful pink spot, so that every time I wear them, I will be reminded of God’s ability to view me and my flaws as something beautiful.
By Jennifer LeBlanc, Live Art.fully
ABOUT JENNIFER
Jennifer LeBlanc calls herself wife to Jonathan, mama to two sweet little girls, daughter to two, sister to three and friend to many. More often than not, you can find Jenn feathering her nest and...
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful thought Jennifer.
Thank you for taking the time to read & comment, Beth!
Sigh of relief. I have PLENTY of spots. And I often don’t see them the way God does. Thank you for reminding me that I can stop working so hard to be my idea of “perfect” and believe I’m beautiful–spots and all.
We can all rest assured that God sees His daughters as beautiful! After all, we are created in His image are we not? Thank you for allowing me to share on (in)courage today!
WOW! What an intersting insight! I had never thought of myself in that way.
Thank you for reminding me that I don’t have to do it all, be it all – just be myself and God will love me!
Thank YOU, Beth. I love what you said, “… that I don’t have to do it all, be it all…” Amen!
What a great insight! I love when it comes from a kid, with no motive or reason to “teach” us something!
Yes, Susie, I am often inspired by something by girls say. I believe sometimes God speaks to me through them.
Awe, that’s so sweet. Love this post. Kids are so close to God that we can learn so much by just listening to them. I am trying to become more of a ‘glass half full’ type of person.
Thank you, Jessica! Thanks for reading.
This is a great post. God speaks to me so often through my kids. Don’t ya love it when He does?
Yes, I do! Thanks Sharon!
Great thought!!
Thank you for reading, April!
I love reminders like this to love the imperfect.
Thank you, Jessica!
This is great. I love the thought that God sees our imperfections as something He can work with to fulfill His purposes. Beautiful thought and one I needed to hear.
Thank you so much for the comment, Jennifer.