Mommy Musings
Monthly Column by Anni Welborne

In our homeschool, we’ve been discussing “animal, mineral, or vegetable,” analyzing how products are made, and what part God has in creating the items we use daily. For example, we discussed how God made the trees and then gave some men the wisdom and knowledge of how to cut down the trees and shape them into our furniture.

So I wasn’t surprised when our four year old daughter asked how she herself was made. I gave her a quick rundown of how God placed her in my tummy for her to grow, and when it was the right time, she came out of my tummy to continue growing. We discussed how her body is made of bones, muscles, and skin. Then she asked, “But Mommy, how did God make my face?”

I could have given her the same answer –- God shaped her skull and covered it with muscles, skin, and hair. But for some reason, I didn’t. Instead, I began tracing her face lightly with my finger and describing the various features of her face, one by one, in glowing terms.

“First, God made your forehead to protect your brain. It’s a pretty forehead, and you think really great thoughts in your brain. Then He put two soft eyebrows, to tell your forehead where to stop and your eyes to start. Then He shaped your lovely, sweet blue eyes. I love your eyes. I love to see the sunshine beaming out of your eyes. Then He gave you long, long eyelashes that are so beautiful. Then He gave you a really cute little nose. (As I kiss the end of her nose.) He had to put your nose there because your cheeks are so soft and round, He needed to separate them. Then He put your lips right there (another kiss), so you could give me that famous, lovely, bright smile. And then He finished it off with that sweet chin of yours.”

Finally, she seemed satisfied with my answers, and she slid off my lap, beaming and touching her face.

Like all children, though, my daughter asks the same questions again and again. And each time, I give her the same answers -– bone, muscles, skin. One day, though, silliness overtook my normal pragmatic self.

“How did God make you? Well, first, He took a whole bunch of giggles and tied them all together. It was really hard to do, because the giggles kept sliding out. Then He wrapped that bundle in sparkly sunshine. He tied a string to it, and then He dipped the whole thing into a vat of shimmery purple paint. And after that, He sprinkled on blue glitter. And then He stuck on Blue’s Clues stickers and little baby dolls and little puppies. Then He tied a great big, humongous, gleaming purple bow!”

“OOOHHHHH! So that’s how God made me!” I guess that made more sense to her than the anatomy and physiology lesson.

It’s important to teach our children about the wonders of creation, including themselves.

Psalm 139:13-15 (NASB)
¹³For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
¹⁴I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

When our second daughter was born with special needs, I learned on a newer and deeper level just how fearfully and wonderfully made we are. I learned what a miracle it is for a child to be able to function what we call “normally.” There are so many things we take for granted with our bodies that are nothing short of miracles.

If we want our children to have healthy, Biblical self-concepts of themselves, we need to start with their Creator and His amazing works. Babies don’t just grow and develop in the womb. The Bible says they are woven and skillfully wrought. Our children need to know this!

Challenge: Sometimes we get so busy, we forget to tell our children what priceless treasures they are. Tell your children that they are among the best gifts God has ever given you, and then give them reasons why they are among the best gifts. Such thoughts will build their self-concept in God-honoring ways.

About the Author: Anni is the wife of Charles Welborne and the homeschooling mother of five children - two daughters (ages 7 and 5) here on earth, and three who graduated early and now dwell with their Heavenly Father. She assists her husband in the tape/CD duplication ministry at their church, where she is also in charge of the Deaf ministry and serves as a sign language interpreter. Anni is also a part-time Developmental Therapist for at-risk and developmentally delayed infants and preschoolers. In her "spare" time, she enjoys sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, and making pysanky (Ukranian decorated eggs). The Welbornes live in Indiana.

Copyright © 2007 by Anni Welborne.