Skip to main content

imago dei

a few days ago in church, i was reminded of the latin phrase "imago dei" ... and this theological doctrine that humans were made in the image of God reminded me of the beauty that we, as humans, are connected to divinity. there is a splendid and powerful foundation in this belief that mankind, in some way, resembles the Almighty.

i thought about what an understanding of this concept would do --  not only for my girls' evaluation of themselves, but for their understanding and treatment of those around them.

my daughters,
remember that you are fierce. you have a spirit of boldness and a truth that blazes brightly.
you are special and set apart and chosen for this specific time in the history of the world.
i truly believe that, and i pray you do too.

you have been given a confidence and an assurance that you are going to be alright. no matter the circumstance or the obstacle, there will be opportunities to succeed and overcome. if you do not, that is okay too. in all the ways that matter, you will be alright. you will lose and you will learn and you will keep on going. you are more than a conqueror, so claim that.

you are amazing. because you are you and because you were made in His image.  please know your worth does not come from worldly expectations or unrealistic standards. you are creative and colorful and prized. you are lovely, inside and out. your beauty stems from your kindness, your empathy, your compassion, and your ability to extend love to others.

because you were made in the image of God, you have the ability to shine that same glorious light. be a positive force in this world, speak up for those whose voices have been silenced or ignored, and stand up for justice.

you have also been given a certain freedom in this life.
free will is an important component of the human experience. you are indeed chosen. however, in the end, you choose whom you serve, where your loyalties lie, what treasures you store up, and what occupies your heart. this freedom is invigorating and should be exercised by all. and it is this priceless freedom that makes the experience of salvation so authentic. your heart can hold the secrets of eternity; with honest pursuit, you can truly see the face of God.

but remember that you are not the only one. it is easy to be empowered with the knowledge that you were formed in incredible ways. but be aware that everyone else was also. strive to be gentle and embrace humility.

choose joy, show kindness and work toward peace. you are on a mission of Love.

if and when someone attempts to convince you that you are not beautiful or precious or valued or even loved,
remember whose you are. remember where you came from. remember where you are headed.

be strong. be bold. be courageous.
imago dei, girls.








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Most Beautiful Mama

My mama has always been beautiful. It is a beauty that is natural and effortless and is the type of beauty that filled my heart with longing when I was a child. I can recall staring at how flawless the even color of her skin was, how adorable the few freckles were on her cheeks, how symmetrical her nose was. I remember thinking how absolutely perfect she looked in a sari, her pleats folded so pristinely, and the tuck of material into her waist seamless and smooth.   I would often feel the softness of my mother’s hands. Hands that had delicate fingers that moved with precision and purpose. Hands that kneaded chapati dough and even held tight to a lawn mower. No matter what she did, her hands were always soft, always welcoming, always beautiful. But she never liked to focus on her own physical beauty. My mother’s true beauty comes from within.  I understood certain aspects of this inner beauty when I was a child. The beauty that comes from her servant’s heart and her work ethic -
Post a Comment
Read more

conversations.

i find myself thinking a lot about the condition of this world, of this nation, and of the hearts of man.  i just open my eyes and really look around or open my ears to truly listen, and i cannot help but face the reality of evil. the reality of corruption. the reality of prejudice. the reality of inequality. the reality of bigotry. the reality of entitlement. the reality of self-righteousness. the reality of immorality. the reality of sin. i have struggled with the presence of these realities for a significant part of my life, and  maybe to some degree for all of my life. but now i struggle with them beyond my identity as a woman, or a child of immigrants, or an educator, or an indian-american, or a Christ follower. i struggle with these harsh realities as a mother. you see, we are trying our hardest to raise three people who will one day change their world. i believe that they can, and i pray that they will. these three little girls have hope in their souls and eternity i
Post a Comment
Read more

i am left...

it was a grocery store in buffalo.  and it was a church in laguna woods.  and it was an elementary school in uvalde, texas.  it is all the times in between and all the times before.  and God please help us, it is all the times after.  i am left with my mind in a jumbled mass of arguments and anger, my heart a knot of ache and pain. i am left with my soul stretching its voice to plea. i am left as i attempt to send my children off to school and myself to walk into my own classroom with my will torn to shreds... barely a thread hanging onto any purpose at all. i am left weeping before bed, sobbing on the way to work, shuddering at the thought of this happening and america continuing on like usual.  i am left scrolling through pictures of beautiful humans that will never breathe again, left reading posts of those who miss the laughs of their cherished, left staring at photos of special occasions, a frozen moment that was supposed to be one in a series of many more. left searching for the
Post a Comment
Read more