A foundational truth is that God created us in his image. As followers of Jesus, we are to look more and more like him. It’s never too soon to start teaching this beautiful reality to even the littlest among us, whether they are your children, step-children, Sunday school students, or kids in your neighborhood. In this second of three questions, Teresa Roberts answers an all-important concern for kids—where do I fit in?
Answer: I am a child of God, created in his image.
Think back to the first few days of a new school year and the terror of entering the lunchroom, searching for your place among the other students. Think about those times when you would look for a place to sit at a social gathering, at a sports practice, or during a church program. In that moment, you were seeking the answer to the question Where do I fit in?
It’s a question children begin asking themselves long before they become teenagers, even if they don’t know quite how to express it. Children look for others to accept them from infancy. Babies cry to receive attention. Being soothed teaches them they have someone who sees them and can comfort them. (Anatomy of the Soul is an excellent resource on attachment.) Toddlers successfully completes a task and look for someone to affirm them. Preschoolers grab a broom to help clean up because they want to please the adult nearby. Kindergartners show off their work or skill to anyone who will give them attention. A child’s desire for acceptance transitions from adults to peers during their elementary school years. Children look for others who have similar interests, skills, or abilities so they don’t feel alone.
As a child seeks attention from others, help her recognize that the loving gaze of God is always upon her, for she is His child, created in His image. Each child is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). God blessed humanity with the gift of children (Genesis 1:28), who reflect Him (Genesis 9:6).
Our perception of a child is often skewed by awareness of his immature and inconsistent behavior. But if we step back for a moment, we can see there is beauty in how each child interacts with the world. A child can remind us what it means to love unconditionally, forgive freely, and hope beyond reason. A child teaches us about honesty and joy and demonstrates the struggle of patience and self-control.
I have often wondered if it is in the best moments of childhood, more than at any other time of life, that we come closest to reflecting God’s image. One way we can help a child come to this recognition is by catching her in the act of reflecting the image of God. Point out to her when she makes a good choice or demonstrates a characteristic of God. Name those things about her character that reflect the heart of God. Children love to hear words of praise and affirmation. How much better to affirm them with words like these: “You remind me of your heavenly Father when you are kind to your brother.” “You look like Jesus when you care for your friend who is upset.” Another way we help children understand their connection to the Father is to connect them to all God’s children. Connecting a child to the Christian community is an important spiritual habit to foster. The Christian community is vital to a child in helping him form his identity. Parents, encourage your child to have relationships with people of all ages within your community of faith. He needs spiritual big brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and grandparents— the family of God. Acceptance within this community can help shape his identity around a shared faith and relationship with God.
In the final post in this series, we’ll consider the third question about our identity, What is my purpose in this world?.
Teresa Roberts
Teresa Roberts is Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation, Program Director of Children’s Ministry, and a vice president at Ozark Christian College. She is an expert in children’s spiritual formation training with more than 25 years of ministry experience.
Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at Carterville Christian Church where she attends with her husband and step-daughter.