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Unashamed to live who God made me to be
THE AMISH COOK
By Gloria Yoder, The Amish Cook
Aug. 19, 2025 9:05 am
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Have you ever wondered why God gave you the personality he did or why you ended up with your eye color? We all know genes naturally play a large role in our makeup, but then I still stop and marvel at how every human being is made by their unique design. I'm guessing that if I were to ask you what you would change about yourself, you would probably have some things you would like to change. If that weren't true, the United States would not be spending millions of dollars each year on beauty products or plastic surgeries. I have a friend who filled out one of those 'One and Only' sheets many years ago. When I scanned over her page, I stopped by the question, "What was one thing you would change about yourself if you could?"
This was her answer: Nothing. I am content with the way God made me. Being a teenager myself, those words went deep.
Nothing. She would change nothing. So was she that perfect a person, or did she know the beauty of accepting all that God made to be good?
I couldn't have jotted that on the blank, so there was more than one thing I would change! In my subconscious mind, being 'me' would not be good enough to be accepted by my peers. Honestly, there were times I would grind my teeth with tension, and though I enjoyed singing, my voice would sometimes lock up with fear. I knew Dad and Mom loved me, but somehow I would often feel like I wasn't good enough. Today, I still work with some of these things, yet I see God's hand patiently leading and reestablishing.
I recall as a little girl, climbing up the cupboard with a mirror, to see what others see when they look at me. I felt like I was not good enough. When my parents reassured me, I was comforted, but skeptical.
Years ticked by. Life brought changes. When I left my 20s, I wasn't convinced of turning 30. Was I old now? Daniel would ask me if I didn't want to get older and get ready for heaven?!
As a girl, I recall my mom saying, "At least my friends get older with me!" Now I get that. I think of my friends, many of them have their hands full of children, like me. Some show streaks of silver (or do you call it evidence of wisdom?) in their hair; we are no longer the same people we were when we turned 16. I think of beauty and character. What is it? Is it a specific bracket we attain when we have the correct skin tone, hair color, or personality? What happens when we push ourselves into a mold of who we would like to be, and that does not get attained? And if we were to be that model, would that in itself bring fullness to our hearts? If your husband or your friends love you for who you are, and as you are, you will be safe with them in a way that no good looks or charm can ever accomplish. Whether or not your peers accept you for who you, there is a God in heaven who tenderly loves all His own; in Him is the ultimate of all we ever long for.
Is there any beauty or strength that is stronger and greater than the light of Jesus reflecting off individuals? Young people have a way of portraying that in profound ways. I have a friend, Michelle, who is not Amish and has a 13-year-old son who plays baseball and travels to do so. This summer, he suggested something different. Before the game began, this young lad suggested that they pray. The others followed. Together they knelt in a circle with arms around each other, praying to God before the match began. Since that day, they have always prayed before they start.
That is who I want to be, unashamed to live who God made me to be.
I can't help but wonder what would happen if we all made a step toward blessing the Lord and others, thus taking a step away from focus on ourselves.
Bring on the years, bring on the unchangeables, don't they result in a medley more beautiful and profound than anything man has ever made?
In our last cookout together with Michelle's family, she told me about a healthy treat she often uses for her husband and children. It's easy to put together, and it's a hit for each family member. She likes keeping some in the freezer for an easy snack when a quick snack is needed.
Healthy Sweet Treat
½ cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix well, then stir in:
4 rice cakes, broken into pieces
¼ cup salted peanuts, chopped
Mix until combined and spread in a nine-by-nine-inch container.
Melt together the following:
½ cup chocolate chips or melts
2 tablespoons coconut oil
Evenly spread the chocolate over the peanut mixture. Place in freezer for 2-3 hours or until set. Cut into eight bars and store in fridge or freezer. Enjoy!