You Are Unique

We were privileged to go on a photo Safari in Africa where we saw plants and animals we had never seen before. It opened up a whole new world of lessons for me. In fact, we received an award for finding the big five on our days out in the “brush.” We saw giraffes, elephants, rhinoceros, lions, and hippopotamus as well as many other birds and animals.

While there I discovered a rose is a rose is a rose. Similarly, an elephant is an elephant is an elephant. Well, not exactly.

Elephants have numerous unique characteristics. For example, they make different sounds. They trumpet, grunt, scream, purr and rumble. Researchers have found they seem to have a different sound to express every emotion.

Additionally, each elephant has his own “fingerprint” on his lower leg. The pattern of creases in the joint just above the foot is different with each elephant.

King David understood uniqueness. In Psalm 139:14 (TLB), he wrote, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it.”

Researchers have stated it would take 1,000 books, 400 pages each book, single lined just to print out one person’s DNA code. While King David did not even know about our DNA, he understood God had made each one of us unique and complex.

Sometimes, though, being different can be disturbing. We wish we looked like others, had their personality traits or at least had their riding lawn mower! Instead of being discontented, let’s learn to rejoice in our individuality.

As we submit our personalities to the working and cleansing of the Holy Spirit, we can become more Christ-like, while still retaining the uniqueness God gave us. May we grow as beautiful as God meant us to be when He first thought of us, in our mother’s womb.

Later God spoke to us through the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.” Instead of comparing ourselves with others, where we will always lose in one area or another, let’s be happy in who and where we are. We are loved!

Prayer: Thank You dear Lord for making me so wonderfully unique in Your sight. I submit myself to You today desiring to become more like You. Amen.