In 1797 Claude Ambroise Seurat, the world’s skinniest man, was born in Troyes, France.

Claude was so skinny he was called “the human skeleton.” He probably was so skinny that he would be marked absent in class, had to move around in the shower to get wet, and would look like a zipper when he turned sideways and stuck out his tongue. Just kidding!

Have you ever felt too thin? How about too fat? We should eat the right foods and exercise, of course, but most Americans are way too concerned about their looks. Comparing ourselves to movie celebrities or magazine models, we never see our bodies and faces as just right.

But God made people of all shapes and sizes. Some people are tall; others are short. Some of us have dark skin; others, light. Certain individuals have long noses, and others have short ones. Some are naturally athletic, and some are gifted in music. Aren’t the differences great? Wouldn’t it be boring if we were all alike?

We can be easily fooled by the way people look on the screen or in ads. Virtually all of those actors and models have had surgery or have taken other extraordinary measures to make themselves look that way. Most people look normal. The next time you’re at a mall, amusement park, or other large gathering, look around. You’ll see a wide variety of God’s creations. And that’s good.

Psalm 139 presents an amazing view of our lives as God sees us. And check out the good news in today’s verse—God watched over us, even before we were born, putting us together just as he wanted.

Does that mean we should let ourselves go and become slobs? Of course not! It does mean, however, that we can accept the way God made us and celebrate who we are.

By the way, you look great!

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb (Psalm 139:15).

To Do

Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Spend a few minutes thanking God for what you see—hair, eyes, nose, skin, body type, height—and for what you don’t see—personality, talents, intellect, abilities, and family.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Siblings Day (be nice to yours).

This is also National Cinnamon Crescent Day (yum!).

1849—Walter Hunt of New York City patented the safety pin. He sold the rights for only $100. (I think that was a big mistake!)

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.