We got a couple of inches of snow this weekend, and with some encouragement, I went out and attempted to make some snowmen. With very limited resources in the back garden (and snow that was not keen on packing well), these are the creations I ended up with after my efforts.

I sent that photo to a friend who said I should post it. I immediately responded, “I think they’re a bit sad for that kind of exposure.” In the moments following that message, I felt like God started speaking to me about His view of His own creations (me included).

It’s hard to put into words a comparison of snowmen and human beings, but it’s what came to mind. Yes, we are living, breathing beings, and far more intricate and wonderful than snowmen. But our Creator is so far above us, and He’s the only reason we live and move and have our being. Those wee snowmen were supposedly made in the “image” of humans, but they are poor reflections. And yet, the resemblance between me and some lifeless snowmen I created is closer than my own resemblance to my infinite Creator.

As flawed as I am in my reflection of His image, He delights in me… and in you! He could easily look at me and all of the opportunities He’s given me over the years and think to Himself, “She’s a bit sad for that kind of exposure.” But He doesn’t. He beams with pride over His children.

I often find it is easier to see my flaws and failings than anything else. In those moments, I can also imagine that others, and especially God, also see mostly those things and view me in the same way I see myself. Saturday I was confronted with a reminder that though God sees my flaws and failings far more clearly than I do, He is still captivated by me and committed to shaping me to look more like Him.

If you feel a bit like a sad little snowman, remember today that God is delighted by you, beaming with pride, and singing over you with songs of joy. (Zephaniah 3:17)