The you God made

It was another big family party. Inside the house, aunts and uncles and grandparents finished their desserts. Outside, the nine cousins played in the yard as the sun went down and the first stars danced in the night sky.

Kaitlin and her cousin Erin whispered and giggled in the big hammock as it rocked back and forth. Erin's brother quietly sneaked up on them. With a big push and then another, he turned the hammock into a wild, wonderful ride. Their giggles turned into laughter. Wheee! another push - and out tumbled the girls. Erin landed in the cool grass still laughing. But crash! went Kaitlin's ankle against a tree stump. All the laughter stopped.

"Are you OK?" asked Erin.

"I think so," said Kaitlin.

At a time like this, it helped her to think of how she was God's child. God made her OK. Always. But that's not how her ankle felt. She tried to stand, but she crumpled back to the ground. It hurt. And she was frightened by how it sounded when she moved.

Kaitlin's cousins helped her get in the house, and her family left the party and drove home. Together, they all began to pray for her. How? They kept remembering that God takes care of His children. They talked about how God protects us all. They kept themselves thinking about how God loves us no matter what. And how nothing is stronger than this love of God.

But Kaitlin began to think about tomorrow. It was her first soccer practice. Her first game was in three days! She loved playing soccer more than anything else. How could she run and shoot when she couldn't even walk?

One of her friends' dads was a man who prayed with people when they had problems. So Kaitlin and her parents decided to call him for help. He was glad they called, and they could see his love for God and his trust in God.

At bedtime, Kaitlin's mom tucked her into bed. They talked about how God is so good that He made everything perfectly. Everything He made is like Him. Nothing can ever change how good it is.

What kind of Kaitlin had God made? Kaitlin thought about that.

The child that God made had to be useful. She had to be strong. God would always hold her up. A leg of a table holds up a table and everything on it. God always supports His children. Nothing can ever change that.

Kaitlin fell asleep with her ankle feeling much better. But in the morning, she still couldn't walk on it. She started to feel discouraged. The soccer game was two days away.

Her mom called their friend again, the man who was praying for her. Again they talked about trying hard to see what God had created. Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, wrote, "God created all through Mind, and made all perfect and eternal" ("Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," pg. 205). Kaitlin and her mom were happy when they remembered from their Bible that "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good" (Gen. 1:31).

By the end of the morning, Kaitlin ran upstairs.

"Look, Mom!" she said with a great big smile. She twirled around on one foot - the one that had hit the stump. And then she twirled around again. Her ankle was strong. It didn't hurt at all. Everything God makes is very good, and Kaitlin had seen proof of that!

Kaitlin played well in the first game. The next week, she scored a goal! And she didn't miss a game all season.

With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise his holy name! With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle. Psalms 103:1-5

Contemporary English Version

(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society