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“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  Psalm 139:14a (NIV)

In Brazil, where I grew up, an orange is a fruit that people peel with a knife going around the fruit with the intent of reaching the end of the peel without breaking it. Though it may sound like a silly act, peeling an orange is like an art and most Brazilians try to master it.

As a child, I remember visiting some impoverished neighborhood homes where people would hang orange peel above their wooden stoves to draw out the orange scent into their homes. I found out then, that to those people, that hanging orange peel was not simply orange peel but rather a natural type of potpourri.

I have learned over the years that people do not always see things from the same perspective. While someone may look at a difficult situation as a lesson well learned, another may take that same lesson as a catastrophe, as the ultimate blow to give up on life and may never recover from such a blow.

I have never seen orange peel hanging from anyone’s kitchen here in America. I have never even seen anyone trying to peel an orange by holding the knife steadily around and around the fruit in order to get a long, seamless string of peel. Yet, I still see it as an art and each orange I peel is a reminder that the peel can be much more than just that.

When Jesus came to earth, He did not have the splendor of potpourri. He was born in a stable among animals. Yet, His presence made all people experience the sweet, unending, unfailing love of God. That tiny baby boy grew up to show the world that when God has a plan, no matter how simple and unimportant someone may seem, to Him, that person is considered special and will be treated like the apple of His eye.

Today, as I peeled an orange for myself, I remembered that I was made in God’s image and that even when others look at me as simple dried up orange peel, to God I will always be potpourri.

 “Dear Lord, thank you for making me who I am in You.”

 For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life