A Girl Named Mia

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:13-18

Mia kicked off her rubber boots as she walked inside. It was her turn to set the table, and she needed to hustle.

“Mia, what have you been doing?” Mia’s grandmother asked.

Mia had forgotten Grandma was coming for dinner. She looked down at her feet, slightly muddy from pond water, then shrugged and went to the kitchen sink to wash her hands.

Grandma shook her head. “Who knew I would have such a tomboy for a granddaughter?”

“I like nature, Grandma,” Mia said. And I’m still a girl, she fumed inside.

The next afternoon, Mia headed to softball practice. Her glove felt heavy in her hands as she remembered the words of another student earlier that day. In the cafeteria, the girl had described the earrings she’d bought last weekend. Then she asked Mia if she had her ears pierced. When Mia answered she’d never wanted them pierced, her classmate exclaimed, “What are you, a tomboy?”

The other girl returned to her sandwich, but Mia had lost her appetite.

As she walked to the softball field for batting practice, Mia remembered she was good at softball. It felt great to be good at something. Even if some people think I’m not so good at acting like a girl.

She tried to turn her thoughts to God’s truth—that God loved her just the way she was. If Jesus died for me—if He really loved me enough to do that—He must have plans for me. That means God made me a girl on purpose—even if His purpose doesn’t always fit with everyone else’s expectations. Mia felt glad knowing God had a purpose for her. She just wished she knew what that purpose was.

“Mia, you’re up!” her coach called as she picked up a bat. Mia faced the pitcher. The first pitch whizzed toward her. She missed. On the second pitch, Mia pictured the softball as one gigantic earring. One I’ll never wear.

Whack! Mia sent the ball sailing.

“Nice one!” her coach yelled. Mia tapped her bat against her cleats. I don’t know God’s plans for me, she thought, but I know He’ll help me become the girl He created me to be.

Today, that was a girl who played softball. Allison Wilson Lee

How About You?

Do you compare yourself to other people and feel like you don’t measure up? Maybe others expect you to be someone you’re not. God made you with a purpose, and He loves you. Jesus died on the cross for your sin so you could belong to Him! Trust Him to show you how to become the one-of-a-kind person He created you to be as you walk closely with Him.

Today’s Key Verse:
Psalm 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Today’s Key Thought:

God created you with purpose