By Misti Binns
Have you ever wondered why God chose you for certain gifts, or called you toward specific people or purposes? I have.
I’ve always loved children. Their parents, on the other hand—well, they’ve sometimes perplexed me. And as a parent myself, I’ve often been just as perplexed. But I’ve never viewed a child’s behavior as a problem—I’ve seen it as a warning, a whisper of something deeper going on inside. I’m grateful to God for that perspective, though I’ll admit, raising three children of my own, I’ve occasionally lost sight of my goals—and sometimes even God’s goals—for them.
All my life, I’ve loved being a teacher. I love watching children learn, grow, and reveal their God-given uniqueness. Every child is different—each mind, each personality, a masterpiece of divine design. Some are more challenging than others, but everyone is fascinating. And through them, God has often taught me about His own heart.
One of my grandsons, for example, was born with what I can only call a mathematical mind. He loved numbers and shapes before he could even run. He could recognize a triangle or square before he could name a toy.
Once, when he was about two, I asked, “How many trees are in that field?” He looked carefully, then looked at me and asked, “Tree?” “Yes, that’s a tree,” I said. He turned back to count—“Three trees,” he said confidently. I was amazed. His little mind worked like a calculator wrapped in curiosity.
Another day, as we were leaving, I told him to wait for me by the door. He pointed at it and said, “Rectangle!” I nodded and smiled. As I walked toward that rectangle, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper “That’s what I want for my children-to know their shape before I show them their purpose.” I stopped in my tracks. That moment has never left me. Our God is so good and desires that we understand how He has formed us, before we try to figure out what He wants us to do.
That same grandson is now in middle school—bright, curious, and still full of wonder. This weekend, I plan to take him on a road trip and tell him this story, to remind him (and myself) of the lesson God taught me through him:
We are all shaped by His hands. We are called to a purpose. We are loved and shaped by a gracious and loving Father.
Before He calls us to a task, He crafts us for it. And for that, I am profoundly grateful.
