What a Show Off

 I chose the photo myself because I just love it.  I’m referring to the one on Page 47 of First Conversation.  It shows a young child with Down syndrome in a t-shirt that reads:  “When God made me, He was just showing off”

There’s more to the story.   In 2004, the photo was featured in Bethesda’s flagship newsletter,  Messenger.  We received a letter (still in my collection) from one of our readers who was not impressed with the image.  She wrote, “Showing off is a human trait. Some might even consider it a sin.  Why is such a human trait attributed to God? Our God is not one of the Greek and Roman gods who at times were ‘show offs’.”

OK, I admit it.  I hadn’t considered that.  Not even a little. 

Sadly, we live in a world in which people with developmental disabilities are at the mercy of inadequate education, healthcare, housing and employment.  Many are openly discriminated against.  In short, their value as complete human beings, created and redeemed by a loving God, is not universally acknowledged.

Granted, it’s just a t-shirt, but the sentence declares an important truth: The magnificent creative beauty of God’s handiwork is displayed (‘shown off’, if you will) in people with developmental disabilities, just as it is in all of us.  In fact, it affirms exactly what the Psalm writer said about God’s creation of humankind (including those with disabilities):  “You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.  You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet” (Psalm 8).

God of creative brilliance beyond reason, may You choose to be a ‘show off’ in our lives today!

David Morstad

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