Image by lisa runnels from Pixabay
“You Are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”
Everywhere I turn this week, I have been met with the thought “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” – at choir practice, in my devotions, the birds, my flowers, a small family gathering. What a great message to hear over and over. This past week I spent a few hours gardening. My body screamed in outrage at the extra physical work. Creaking aging muscles and joints complained loudly. When I visited the osteopath, she said, “You may have had a heavy day, done too much, yet still your body is starting to repair itself from the residual problems of knee surgery.
“We are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Even though I’ve lamented to God, “Couldn’t you have done something better than to create us to fall apart as we age?”, I can also sing, “Oh what a miracle am I.” For we are a miracle. We have been given bodies that heal themselves whenever possible. We have minds and nervous systems that tell us when to stop working, when to eat and when to stop eating, when to sleep and wake up and so much more if we only listen. We automatically breathe and we automatically withdraw from things like fire that would harm us.
The fact is that after eighty years of living, I woke up this morning. My body still has the built-in ability to repair itself, to forgive me for the foolishness of overdoing it. God has built into creation God’s wonderful gift of forgiveness. One thing we learned during Covid was that even our damaged environment when given the opportunity, will gradually recover from our pollution. What we need to do is stop the destruction. “Yes we are truly fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Outside my window is a courageous maple tree. It has been dying by inches for the last eight years. This spring it started with one remaining healthy big branch still reaching a little further into the sky, and dressed in fresh new green leaves. It’s an awesome miracle. Across the yard a tiny red oak, planted last year, it’s pencil thin trunk supporting two branches covered in green oak leaves tinged with red. It too is an awesome miracle. Oh yes, all of creation is “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Today I thank God for me, for this aging body that contains a desire to live and live well, to continue to care for and love others. I thank you God for all I can continue to do. I thank you God for the wonder of creation in all it’s variety, and desire to live. I thank you God for your built in forgiveness and healing, basic to all of creation. We are truly blessed. Today and everyday, look in the mirror. Give God thanks for the miracle that is you. “You are fearful
Sing a song of miracles. ook in the mirror. Give God thanks for the miracle that is you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.