MADE by GOD TAG

As a young girl in Ghana, as in most countries, Christmas and Easter were exciting times. I would look forward to getting a new set of church dresses and a new pair of shoes. I remember Christmas and Easter as the only times I received new church clothes and shoes. It was also the only time I ate chicken. Yes, you read that last sentence right.

Even though I looked forward to getting these new items, I would imagine what they would look like long before these two occasions. I always pictured an elegant floral or lace dress with a bow and patent leather shoes. Nothing was so upsetting when I would start Christmas shopping with my mom and realize that her focus was on buying me a piece of material/fabric.

The moment that happened, I knew what was going to follow. Our next stop would be at the seamstress because my measurements needed to be taken for my Ghana-made(tailor-made) dress to be sewn. My high hopes of getting an elegant floral or lace dress would be dashed.

My mom would lovingly explain that there wasn’t enough money to buy me my preferred dress. Of course, at that age, I didn’t understand. All I knew was that every parent should be rich and make magic happen for their kids. All I cared about was that wearing my tailor-made apparel to church at Christmas meant I was going to look poor and not fit in.

For my Ghanaian friends, I’m talking about the early to mid-90s. At that time, locally made clothes were not as fashionable as they are now. Of course, at that age, I also didn’t understand the importance of supporting local businesses, though I know better now.

The competitor for Ghana-made dresses were “already made” dresses—every child’s dream dress for Christmas. If you were in an “already made” dress or shoes, it meant your parents bought it from a store that imports products from overseas. Of course, wearing it meant looking cool and rich.

Now that I’m an adult, I’m thankful to God that He has helped me realize that the tag on my clothes doesn’t matter; what matters most is the tag He has put on me. My value has nothing to do with what I wear, whether “Ghana-made” or “already made.” I am “God made.” And you are “God made,” too!

He invested so much time, love, and joy into molding you, and He calls you His masterpiece—His very own handiwork (Ephesians 2:10). In fact, just like that Ghana-made(tailor-made) dress, God had your measurements and knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). He made you in His very own image, and that means He didn’t use cheap products to represent Himself (Genesis 1:26). He used genuine first-class materials—the finest in His warehouse.

Beloved, I pray you never forget how valuable you are to God. Walk with your chin up and your head high because you were not made by just anyone. God Himself made you. His hands made you well. He breathed His breath of life into you—His Holy Spirit (Genesis2:7). The same way designers put their labels on clothes or other products to show how proud they are of their creation, God puts His label, His Holy Spirit, in you to identify you as His very own (Ephesians 1:13).

The same way designers put their labels on clothes or other products to show how proud they are of their creation, God puts His label, His Holy Spirit, in you to identify you as His very own (Ephesians 1:13).

Prayer: Father God, please help parents worldwide, especially around this time of the year, not to receive that heavyweight of condemnation the enemy may throw at some of us for our inability to give our kids what they want for Christmas. You are the all-knowing God and know what every kid, mom, dad, friend, colleague, neighbor, etc., needs this season. So, I pray you meet each family at the point of their needs, whether it's a physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, psychological, etc. Thank you for being a good father and knowing how to give good gifts to your children. Thank you for breathing your Shalom Peace into every home in Jesus' name. Amen!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and CHEERS to the NEW YEAR!