Fingerprints of God

This evening my precious 10-year old and I had one of those bittersweet conversations common to mothers with daughters on the cusp of young womanhood. How thankful yet anxious I feel for the privilege of walking with my girls to the edge of adolescence and watching them wade into those whirling waters while I whisper encouragement from the shore. How well I remember my own inner turmoil at this tender age and wish for them much greater strength and purpose than I possessed in those days.

Tonight's conversation revolved around a laundry list of changes Eva wished she could exact upon her appearance. How she wishes her brown hair could be blond; and her hazel eyes blue. How she longs for a skinny stomach like so-and-so in her class who is so thin and and thinks she's "all that." How she wants to make her own breakfasts and lunches and to cut back on those oh-so-tempting sweets that surround her.

As always, I reminded her of how beautiful she is to us and how perfect she is to God. We talked of genes and how we can't change them but we can make choices to work with them towards healthier lives. I assured her that I would never want her eyes to be blue because then we wouldn't have our "matching" hazel eyes that she has always found so remarkable. We discussed dyeing hair and highlights and bikinis and modesty and belly dancing and falling in love (most notably regarding the latter the fact that she may have decided not to remain single forever after all - a serious deviation from her former life plan!)

Afterwards, it just happened to be family movie night and we just happened to be watching a video about a young boy's awkward transition into middle school with all its adolescent angst. Talk about timing. At the movie's end, I informed my three older kids that (1) they never have to worry about middle school because (2) I forbid them to continue growing but (3) if they ever do, they must not be as selfish as the film's protagonist and (4) choose good and kind friends while they are at it. Then we all laughed while I had that brief flash of panicky feeling because we all knows that as much as we parents might wish it sometime, we cannot make time stand still after all.

There is a song that I absolutely love and my girls know I love it because every time we listen to the CD both Pedro and I make a point to tell them that it is our song for them. Entitled "Fingerprints of God," it was written by a father for his daughter as she experienced many of the same insecurities Eva is now facing. How I hope and pray that she, too, will understand where her true beauty lies ... in the fingerprints of her Maker, in whose eyes (and in ours) she truly is a masterpiece.

Fingerprints of God
by Steven Curtis Chapman

I can see the tears filling your eyes
And I know where they're coming from
They're coming from a heart that's broken in two
By what you don't see
The person in the mirror
Doesn't look like a magazine
Oh but when I look at you
It's clear to me

That I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece that all creation
Quietly applauds
And you're covered with
The fingerprints of God

Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand and perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living, breathing
Priceless work of art

And I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece that all creation
Quietly applauds
And you're covered with
The fingerprints of God

Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
Oh, And God's not through
In fact, He's just getting started!