I’ll never forget one specific day when I took my sixteen month old daughter to church. I was so proud of her. She was dressed in a frilly, pink eyelet dress that was accompanied by a soft white sweater. She had the biggest shiny brown eyes. Tiny auburn ringlets bounced all around her little head. She had chubby cheeks and a smile that would melt hearts. I just knew everyone wished they had a daughter as beautiful as mine! I, myself, had dreamed of a daughter like her for as long as I could remember.
One of my former classmates visited church that day and brought her little girl that was the same age and height. She too had beautiful dark hair and a big smile. My classmate asked if she could put my daughter up in the seat with her daughter, so they could play. I answered, “Sure!” At one point, both girls were standing side by side. We didn’t have cell phones back then, but I’ve always been addicted to having a camera in arms reach. I quickly pulled my camera out to capture both girls leaning over the seat and smiling.
I’m ashamed to say it, but please realize … I was a young mother at the time. I sat there thinking that the other mother was probably wishing her baby was as pretty as mine! I kid you not! Many people bragged on both the girls, but I was sure they really thought mine was cutest. I just smiled with pride and an all knowing face.
Later, when I had my pictures developed, (Yes, back then there was no such thing as printing pictures at Walgreens or Walmart,) I thought to myself, “Here’s proof, my baby is so much prettier than the other baby. Her dress was definitely prettier too. Why, I bet she’s even smarter!”
Years later, I pulled out that picture and laughed. I remembered the pride that I had for my daughter. I remembered all the biased thoughts. However, reality had kicked in. Both of those precious babies in the picture were adorable. I don’t think the other mother had wished her daughter looked like mine at all. Hers was just as beautiful and well dressed as mine! Yes, I still loved mine more.
So, what was it that had overshadowed my eyes to make me believe that my daughter was more beautiful? It’s because when I looked at my daughter, I saw her personality, all the cute little things she had previously said and done. I had experienced the love and devotion she shared with me.
As it turned out, God used that picture to teach me a lesson. From then on, I realized that every momma thinks their baby is the most beautiful and precious and that’s the way God intended it to be, so that no baby is left out. Yes, there are some mothers who, because of sin, don’t attach to their babies in the way they should. Yet, God sends angels to those babies to comfort them.
Now, think with me for a second… The Bible says all God’s children are the apple of his eye. He formed us in our mother’s womb and has thought we were to die for throughout our entire lives. He doesn’t compare us to one another. He loves us all equally. All the while, he has a personal relationship with each of us to meet our needs accordingly! Somebody say it with me, “Amen! Thank you Lord!”
Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.
Side note Mommas and Grandmas: When you post those adorable pics of your babies to Facebook that people gush over, they think to themselves, “Mine’s still cuter!” I bet you do too!
Stay real friends!
