So this past week the wonderful ladies we are working with gave us henna tattoos- known as mehendi in India. Also this week, our father also brought me to Psallm 139: 13-14. I have heard these verses many times but I do not think I had ever really meditated on what they say about God and about us. Watching the girls do henna on us reminded me of some of these truths. Here are some parallels I found:
Each tattoo is hand-drawn, intricate, and detailed. Each is thought-out and unique. Every time one is drawn, it is never exactly the same as one before it even though the same person may have drawn the earlier ones. Each design is the creation of the artist and each is beautiful.
Traditionally, mehendi is part of the wedding festivities. On the night before her wedding the bride will gather with other women and they will draw henna tattoos on each other, usually on both sides of the hands and arms and sometimes on the feet . Also according to tradition, the groom’s name will be hidden somewhere into the bride’s tattoos. The tattoos usually fade after about a week. Mehendi is also a lot of fun! All of the girls enjoyed drawing on us and you could tell they were proud of their work.
God’s creation of a person is also intricate, detailed, and thought-out. Each is his handiwork- his personal design. We are all one of a kind and at the same time we all reflect the same artist. We are all beautiful with divine beauty. Every time God makes a person He does not just a good job, but a wondeful work!
In some places the analogy falls apart for there is only one Creator who created us all and our groom is JC. We are hidden in Him and our names are written in his book of life in eternal ink that never fades. The imprint of JC on us is not from the outside in, but the inside out as his spirit permanently dwells in our hearts. Because of this we shine brighter each day.
God loves creating and loves bringing His creation back to Himself. Oh God, let me see India as Your creation that You are bringing to Yourself and let me see each Indian man and women, girl and boy as a wonderful work.
