Imma, The Pregnant Paper Doll

I should probably start off with a disclaimer. No, I am NOT pregnant, nor do I plan to be any time in the immediate future.

But, I have been thinking a lot about kids in general and babies in particular lately. Then, because I’m me, I started thinking about the fact that you really don’t see pregnant paper dolls or really pregnant dolls of any sort. When I was a kid, one of my friends had a pregnant Barbie-esq doll that I thought was the coolest thing on planet earth. I don’t know how many time I tried to convince her that she should give me her doll. I was a regular lawyer of the absurd. Anyway, I remember reading that Midge, the pregnant Barbie, caused huge outrage from people that thought it would somehow encourage teen pregnancy. (http://www.momlogic.com/2009/08/top_11_most_controversial_dolls.php)

You know what I think is ironic about that? If we actually let kids play at being parents, they have more of a tendency to treat it like everything else they play at. It becomes a dream for someday, when they are grown up. We don’t worry about kids pretending to be carpenters or doctors or scientists or chefs, do we? I mean, scientists use explosive chemicals, carpenters use dangerous power tools, doctors see people naked, and chefs wield sharp knives… all things we don’t really want kids doing before they are mature enough to handle it. How is pregnancy and parenting any different from any of those other professions?

Okay, rant over. When I start monologuing to my computer, it’s usually a sign that I need sleep. My bed is calling my name.

Enjoy the paper doll!

Note: If you are planning to print this paper doll, be sure to click on the desired image first, in order to view it in it’s original large size, so it won’t come out all pixelated and blurry.

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In My Own Image or After My Kind?

I was thinking this morning about how I am often torn between the essence of the first great commission and the essence of the first sin.

The first great commission was “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

The first sin was trying to be god.

God never said “Okay people, I want you to all go around and try to have dominion over each other. Crush others down with words, fists, actions, manipulation, whatever it takes.” Nope. The only thing we are supposed to subdue is the animals and the earth, not our fellow humans.

Most people spend their lives trying to make other people be like them. We prim and preen and worry, trying to make sure that we are someone who others will want to emulate.

That is why popularity has such a stranglehold on us.

But the truth of the matter is that He said to reproduce. (I’m not talkin’ about sex here, people. That’s another whole blog post.)

Humanity was created in the image of God, right? And we are supposed to reproduce, after our own kind, the kind that HE created. The concept behind reproduction is assisting in the bringing forth and raising up of others that are made in HIS image, not ours.

Paul said “follow me, as I follow Christ.” That really is the key in the struggle.

What are my motives, when I reach out in friendship or a mentoring relationship? Am I trying to help that person become like Christ, or am I trying to be their god? Do I want them to need me or do I want them to see their need for God? Do I want them to change, just so they conform to some image of perfection I hold in my own head?

-Just a thought-