I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14 NIV

Pieces of fabric and cotton stuffing blanketed the floor. My little dog whimpered as his favorite toy had been torn up by a bigger dog that didn’t realize she had a prized possession in her mouth.

I gathered the torn fabric and cotton stuffing off the floor and carefully laid it on the table to see if anything could be salvaged. I looked down at my little dog. He had a look like I know you can fix it. I took a picture of the pieces and texted it to a dear friend who sews. “Can you fix this?” I felt a little stupid asking. It was his favorite toy and it always stayed in his bed – so that gave me some comfort in asking. She doubted there was anything she could do but she would give it a shot.

A few days later she called and said she had put it somewhat back together, but it didn’t look like it. “I don’t care what it looks like. I think he just needs to see his toy again. He has refused to play with any of the other toys.” I said to her.

My friend and I met for lunch, and she handed me a bag. Inside was the funniest looking stuffed dog toy I had seen. We both laughed. “Well, it looks similar,” I said trying to contain my laughter.

I took the misshapen toy home and gave it to my dog. He immediately grabbed it up and began playing with it. He didn’t notice the toy had changed or the flaws in the design. He saw the toy as he remembered it.

I thought to myself - he is seeing that toy as Jesus sees us, without flaws. We don’t look misshapen to God. The gray hair, wrinkles, a limp, or the unsteadiness of a gait is what we see in ourselves when we look in the mirror. But through God’s eyes He sees a beautiful creation. It took that stuffed toy and a chihuahua to remind me that I should always try to look at myself and others through God’s lens.

Mitzie Avera