It started at the dinner table. I hadn’t been prepared to discuss it. Yet there it was, laid bare in front of me while Barrett was away. I had just finished reading about God promising Abram and Sarai to have a baby when they were old. Annabelle’s math that day had been writing 1-100 on a worksheet so her understanding of how old 100 is was very tangible. I explained how Sarai having a baby at 100 could only be from God and it showed that God can do all his holy will even when we think it’s impossible. This led the discussion to me having her in my belly (we are knit together by the Lord in our mother’s womb, Ps 139) and how Ronnie and Lydia were knit together in their mother’s womb. Confusion contorted her face as she tried to figure out how I could be Ronnie and Lydia’s mom if they were in another woman’s belly. Yes, another light conversation with my 5-year-old while my two year olds happily chewed on their dinner oblivious to their sister’s mind being blown. After explaining biological mothers verses adoptive mothers in a simple way, I told her that is what God has done for us! Adopted us at our weakest moment when we had nothing to offer and chose to love us forever when we trust in Jesus. Ronnie and Lydia had moved to sucking the water loudly from their cups by this point. The teachable moment ended and the kids transitioned to bath time.
Meanwhile, my mind stayed on topic. I was telling Annabelle how much the twins mom had loved them because she left them in a place where they could be found. My mind transitioned to how thankful I was that their mom had actually birthed them. I’m sure it was not easy for her to carry twins and give birth to them in who knows what conditions…and then realize that they were more than she could handle (if she even survived), so she put them or had someone place them where they could be found. She gave them a chance for a forever home, our home. She made many difficult choices. Many women do.
Then my mind went to current events. I really sat and pondered if I felt like I am being oppressed and if my choices are being threatened. I’m sure I do sometimes. But I kept going back to the fact that men and women have all been made in the image of God and thus have intrinsic worth. My identity is not in what organs I have or don’t have, what job I’ve had or didn’t have, if I got married or not, even if I have kids or not. It’s not even contingent on my education or political affiliation. It is in the fact that I have been knit together in my mother’s womb by a creative God that knows every hair on my head and hears my every prayer. He even saves my tears. He loved me so much that at my worst, when I hated him the most, he opened my eyes to the fact that he sent his sinless son to die on the cross to forgive said sins and then rose again conquering the penalty for those sins. He made me his forever daughter and I had no resume or credentials, only a death sentence. Man, my heart feels FREE! Not oppressed. Praise the Lord!
I’ve had the privilege of visiting many poor countries and talking with men, women, and children who live in shacks and literally eat bugs at times. One of the most poignant for me was walking through the trash dump community in Ethiopia. We passed a lady selling various spices and beans. This was the poor of the poor. She relies on people who sift through trash for her income. Yet her face shown like the noon day sun! I asked my friend Rebecca to ask her why she couldn’t hold back her smile. Rebecca translated her answer for me, it was because Jesus loved her, this she knew. She was happy and felt worth in knowing her sins were forgiven in Jesus. Wow. She needed nothing else. Oh how I want to grasp that worth! Despite her living conditions and role in life, she did not complain about being oppressed. Instead, her face displayed her freedom in Christ!
Oh how I want to teach not just my daughters, but my son that worth! Their worth does not come from what they do or don’t do, it comes from being an image bearer of a holy God. And when/if they accept this, they want to love God by loving their neighbors. I’ve seen Cambodians, Thais, Chinese, Koreans, Ethiopians, Tanzanians, and more radiate this intrinsic worth in the simplest and dirtiest places. Far from being oppressed by their political or social standing, they choose to stand on the truth of what they Bible says about them. They are chosen. They have worth. They are free from their burden of sin when they trust in Jesus.
I am an American and I love my country, my husband has even made an oath to die for it. I love our freedoms of speech and protest. I will teach my children their constitutional rights as well as the constitution. But I will also teach them that their worth does not come from one political party or another. Their worth is not determined by action, choices, talent, or money. It’s in being made in God’s imagine with intrinsic worth. And all men and women have it. Therefore, we treat others with respect and humility, no matter if we agree or disagree with their views.
Like I said, it all started at the family dinner table. Mind blown.