The Paper Tie

The Stuart Family 1975

When I was a little girl I remember giving my dad a special tie for Father’s Day. It was one that I made in my kindergarten class. It was made out of paper. We had cut them out and decorated them especially for our dads.  Mine was quite colorful with my own special designs. It was kind of silly looking, but I was proud of it, because it was something I had made for him. I remember giving it to him and how he graciously and lovingly received it with a big smile on his face. I also remember being a little embarrassed by it because it definitely didn’t live up to the many other ties that my dad wore.  My dad was a pastor and often wore a tie. One morning he showed up at the breakfast table wearing the tie I had made him. He loved it and was going to wear it to work. He couldn’t have made a little five-year-old happier!

Tammy in Kindergarten

Standing in front of our "likely" Congo, Kinshasa school building

Today, 40 years later, I still feel like I am making “paper ties”. Not for my dad any longer, but for my heavenly father. Whether the tie I make comes in the form of the project I am working on to get a school starting in the DRC (Congo), organizing a fundraiser Freiheitslauf(“freedom run”),  trying to connect our church women’s ministry to the needs of the many refugees that are moving into this area of Germany, perhaps cooking a meal, or singing in our town’s Music Verein (local choir). These “ties” are all things I enjoy “making”, with my limited knowledge, experience, expertise, passion and love…

The other day while reading in the Bible I was reminded that when God created men and women, He created them to reflect His own image to the world.  It hit me that the gifts and passions He specifically gave me were given so that I could reflect that aspect of Him to this world.  I don’t have to be ashamed of them, or feel like they are “less worthy” than others, because I know he has made me to reflect that part of His image in me to the world around.
 

Happy Birthday Dad! ( Feb 21) Love you! 

I have a delightful picture in my head - a picture of God wearing a different paper tie every day. Ones that each of us have made and given Him which show our own individual uniqueness, culture, gifts….ones that reflect something of Him in us. And yes, He is wearing them with a big, proud smile on His face!