This week, school began in our county. This means six kids attending five schools and chaos for me as I try to keep up with all the teacher and school notifications. Mornings have gone from summer time laziness and pajamas to early morning hustle and running to catch the bus. I am determined to keep my early morning gym routine, so my oldest daughter makes sure the youngest two leave for their walk to school on time.
Today, when I can home from the gym and a trip to the grocery store, she said to me, “Mom, we saw something really cool while the kids were waiting to leave and I took a picture of it for you!”
(The view through the window blinds of their find.)
I am not a botanist, biology graduate, zoologist, or Steve Irwin. What I do know is that that is a picture of a frog (not uncommon to see a frog around here) and you can see that frog’s insides. This is kind of gross! Who wants to see guts?!
After a quick search (I love the internet!), I surmise it’s some relation to the South American Glass Frog, but don’t quote me on that. They are characterized by their transparent bellies which allow you to see inside – heart, intestines, everything! Obviously, my daughter’s pictures through the window in early morning light don’t allow for much detail, but this stock photo gives you the idea.
What struck me was how clearly all the internal organs could be seen, even in a grainy photo. Normally I would say that guts are gross, but there is an awe-inspiring beauty in this unique creature that God designed to be a living anatomy lesson!
This made me think of our lives. How many of us have a carefully constructed veneer that the world sees? Maybe even your closest family doesn’t know what goes on in your heart and your internal dialogue. We all have secret, hidden corners, but nothing is hidden from G-d. To him, we are as transparent as a Glass Frog.
As you read that, some of you may be happy about that and some of you may be terrified. There may be things you don’t want anyone, least of all the Creator of the universe, to know. What is inside of us can be extremely ugly! The beauty of our relationship with G-d is that he doesn’t expect perfection.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us. – Romans 5:8
He desires to know all of us – from the deep, dark, putrid corners of shame to the beautiful, light-filled expanses of our best moments. Nothing is kept hidden from him. Psalm 139 talks about that. Romans says there is no where that we can go to be beyond G-d’s reach – and that’s a good thing!
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Messiah Yeshua our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39
We are fast approaching the month of Elul, a time of reflection in preparation for the High Holidays. This is when we begin to take stock of our lives, our conduct, and our speech over this last year. We sift through the good, the bad, and the ugly to see where we need to make amends to others, make changes in ourselves, and repent to G-d.
During this time, be conscious of the fact that you are like a Glass Frog in G-d’s eyes. He doesn’t want you to try to hide anything from him and you can’t anyway! Don’t be afraid of the transparency. Be honest with yourself and use this time to grow closer in your relationship with G-d because you can be the beautiful ugly creation that he created you to be.
Neshama Women 