Made In God’s Image

Made in God’s Image

God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

I sat quietly listening as all the women chatted together in the kitchen. We were meeting at my friend Sam’s house to share a meal and recipes. We were women of all different ages and backgrounds, some new to the country, some visiting as teachers and here for a short season—all wanting to get to know one another better and learn about one another’s lives. Each of us had brought a dish that was meaningful to us—a family recipe or traditional dish in our country. We all tried new foods made with ingredients and spices we’d never had before—foods that, once experienced, we vowed to taste again.

As I listened to the conversation of the women around me, I was struck by the familiar threads. We talked about work and education and balancing all of life. We spoke of dreams and hopes for the future, of food and cooking, of staying healthy and the few extra pounds some of us would like to lose. We spoke of concerns over children and families, parenting and schedules.

As I continued to quietly observe the women, I realized how much we are alike—how emotions such as happiness, joy, anxiety, and fear play through all of our lives—and I thought, We aren’t so different after all. We all want jobs, safe places to live, food, and clothing. We want our children to be educated and secure in the places they grow up. We want to dream and pursue our goals in life.

Looking around the room, I realized that each of these women was made in the image of God. Their lives have value and meaning, just as mine does, because God is the creator of us all. And because of this, we can celebrate our differences and freely try new things, hear about others’ experiences, and befriend those who, at least on the surface, appear very different from us.

— Kendra

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Take some time to get to know someone who appears to be different from you—listen to their story and share a part of your own.