My oldest daughter, Hannah, wrote a poem for my birthday. My heart melted as she read it to me, and I was so proud. When she handed it to me, I immediately noticed all the imperfections. I wanted to frame the poem and hang it in my office, until (ashamedly) I noticed all the mistakes.

This is the mental battle that ensued:

What would people think of this, especially knowing we’re a home school family?

What kind of reflection would this be on our children’s education?

How could I proudly display something with so many obvious mistakes?

I was then reminded of Ephesians 2:4-7, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show (display/ show off) the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus…for  we are his workmanship (masterpiece).”

God, in his great mercy, displays us with all our imperfections. He loves the praise, worship, service, and gifts we offer him, even though they’re full of mistakes and imperfections.

God is proud to showcase you in spite of all your imperfections, and he is proud to display that unlovable person in your life in spite of his or her imperfections. Why? Because we are his masterpieces! And if he is so proud to exhibit someone as imperfect as me, I should be proud to show off the imperfect gifts from my children.