Distinctly Different

Have you ever thought about how a platypus was created?

I never really thought about them until I dreamed about one a while back. But now they seem to appear in my thoughts quite often. I have never seen one in person since they are indigenous to Australia and I’ve never been there.

The design itself intrigues me if nothing else. So, I decided to dig a little deeper into this bottom feeder and see if I could get some insight on this remarkable mammal.

The first thing that impressed me was how they have many similar qualities of other animals. Their characteristics resembles that of many different species.

Here’s the list:

• Duck (bill)
• Beaver (tail)
• Otter (feet, body and fur)
• Lizard (legs sprawl out to the side of the body when they walk)

And to add to this quite extravagant list- they are also amphibious. When they are not using their webbed feet in the water to swim, they are able to retract the web exposing individual nails that allows them to run on land. Oh, and they also lay eggs. One of only two mammals that do.

Although they don’t have teeth and use their cheek pouches to hold food until they can mash it up and swallow it, they do however have sharp stingers on the heels of their rear feet and can use them to defend themselves with a toxic venom that is quite effective when needed. They are non-life threatening but powerful enough to do some major damage to their victim.

All this said, it would appear this hodgepodge creature has many features of other animals but oddly enough these familiar qualities are what makes it unique and distinctly different from the rest.

It can certainly relate to the duck by how it uses its bill and the beaver by how it uses its tail to maneuver through the water gracefully. And the otter and lizard by how it uses its feet to swim and run, awkward as it may be.

It is a combination of many things yet very different in its own way. We, as children of God, are also given many different and unique qualities. The combination of gifts is unique and special to each of us. But we can certainly use our past experiences to relate to each other.

Even though we are all different we have many of the same qualities and all of us, like sheep, have strayed away. None of us are perfect. Only Christ is perfect. It is by grace we are saved. He extends grace to us so we should extend it to others and to ourselves. Sometimes we are harder on ourselves than anyone.

It all comes together for the good of God and those we serve. He made us on purpose exactly how we are, in His own image. We can accept everything just as it is- flaws and all. The flaws are perfectly us and no one is exactly like us.

You are special just as all His creation and little ones are special and unique. Love yourself as He loves you without regard to your mistakes, flaws, blemishes, or brokenness.

If you could see yourself as He sees you- through the lens of love- you would be happy with yourself because of your Creator and the love He has for you.

Write a reminder to yourself on your mirror: God deeply loves you just as you are.

No matter how you see yourself- you can go forth with confidence in what God is doing in and through you. Obedience is key.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s path to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53.6

But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. I Thessalonians 5:8