His Vessels

"But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to the molder, "Why have you made me like this?"

Romans 9:20

I think Instagram is made for jealousy. I see so many beautiful pictures of beautiful people in beautiful places, and sometimes I wish. I wish I was a mommy with beautiful children playing outside in beautiful settings or cooking delicious food. I wish I wasn't here where I am, where God put me. I see lovely young ladies covered in beautiful freckles, glorious long curly hair, majestic mountains, dazzling sunsets, farmers, unsingle women (haha! Have you heard of such a thing?), weddings, and the list goes on. Sometimes I feel a little jealous. 

Not my picture (obviously).

Then I start to think a little more realistically. Are only a few freckles worse than lots of freckles, is less curly hair worse than more curly hair, are big hips not as good as no hips (Hey! At least I'll be able to give birth better than them!), is living in the city while God wants me to not as good as living in the mountains when He doesn't want me to? So many questions, and I begin to realize that I am mostly questioning God. As if He made a mistake when He created me, I wish I looked different, lived somewhere different, had something different. 

My picture (obviously, because it's not Instagram perfect, and nor is it supposed to be).

Yet, God made me in His image, He created me for His glory, and He gave me life through the death and resurrection of His Son. I have no complaints. How can I say, "Why have You made me thus?" He made me perfectly how He wanted. There were no mistakes in what He made, no mistakes in where He placed me, no mistakes in my status right now. He does all things well (Mark 7:37). 

I may not be the prettiest person in the world (let's just be honest, I'm not), but that's OK because "favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain" (Proverbs 31:30). God is perfect in wisdom, and to question His wonders is as if to say we could do better. 

Priscilla took this picture, and I love it because it shows so many kinds of vessels all beautifully made in God's image.

So I am learning to love God's way, His will, His wonders. 

Once again, a picture from Priscilla. She has a good camera and knows how to capture good shots. Of all the photography enthusiasts in our school, she's my favorite. 

I am going to turn the tables now and present to you one of those particularly beautiful vessels: the one who bore me, the one I call Mom. Sunday was Mother's Day, and I wasn't able to be home for my dear mother, but I did get to talk to her on the phone. She is a beautiful lady, full of the love of God. Through the years, she has become my friend, not just my mama. I love you, Mom, thanks for all you do. 

Dad took this picture of us together the morning we left home to go to Minnesota. I was grumpy. We kind of look similar, but she is clearly the more lovely of the two. Oh, I'm supposed to stop comparing myself. 

Loving His Design, 

Your Friend,

Elsabeth