You are Special (Manuscript)
The Wemmicks were small wooden people. Each one of them was carved by a woodworker named Eli. His wood working shop over looked the village were they live. Every Wemmick was different. Some were tall, some were short, some had glasses, some did not, some were thin, some were stout, some had talent, and some were without. Each Wemmick was unique in the way Eli craved them. After Eli carved them they were allow to live in the village below. And the Wemmicks did the same thing every day: they gave each other stickers. Each Wemmick had a box of golden stars and gray dots. Walking up and down the street they could be seen putting stars or dots on each other. They got stars if their paint was chipped, if they’re pretty or talented. They would gray dots if they weren’t talented, they had marks on their paint, or if they just did measure up to the Wemmicks with gold stars. Punchinello was one of these. He tried to jump like, but he always fell. When he would fall the others gathered around him and gave him gray dots.
Punchinello didn’t know why he didn’t get stars. He didn’t know with what purpose he was made.
Psalm 139:14-18: 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
We need to understand, just like Punchinello, why we were made.
First we were made with detail. Verse 14 and 15 gives us the understanding that we are a unique creation. To many times people look at themselves in the mirror and don’t like what they see, they don’t like the talent or the lack of talent they have. So they question the creator, God Himself and they say, “I am nothing, I’m no good, what use am I.” This is a lie from the pit of hell. God made us, He formed us, and He put detail into us. He knew we would be born, He knew our likes, loves, and every mystery. Have you have thought that nothing is a surprise to God. The words skillfully wrought, has the meaning of needlepoint. When you needlepoint, you put certain threads in certain places and create a beautiful work of art. So it is with you, you are a work of art, but not everyone sees art the way others do. The most beautiful work an artist sees is the one he creates. You are the most beautiful to God, because He created you.
Continuing with our story of the Wemmicks; sometimes Punchinello would fall it scar his wood, so the people would give him dots. He would make excuses why he fell and the people would say that’s silly and give him more dots. After a while he had so many dots he didn’t what to go outside. He was afraid he would do something dumb and get more dots. He had so many dots people would say he’s not a good wooden person and he deserves the dots. Punchinello even got to the point that he said, “I’m not a good Wemmick.
Often times we act like Punchinello, we question, we wonder, we make ourselves noting. But God chose to form us, to make us, to create us. The next time you don’t feel worthy, remember, God mad you with detail, He cares about you, who you are and what you do.
Secondly we are made deliberately. Verse 16 tells us that we were planned. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance, and in your book were all written. What a beautiful message. Go knew us before we were formed. God knew you, He knew me. His detail, His care, His precision is all though us, because we are planned. In His book drew us, he put a plan in place for us. Unfortunately we mess that us, but it’s not too late to get back on track. He’s calling us away from our sin and to the cross to live a life worthy of Him. He created us with a purpose. He created me for the pastorate, but I tried to run, but I couldn’t run any further. You were created for a purpose, are you on track?
Punchinello made Wemmick unlike any he had ever met before. She had no stars and she had no dots. When people would see her they saw she was beautiful and said she deserves a star. But the star wouldn’t stick. Then when the stars wouldn’t stick they would put dots, but they wouldn’t stick. Punchinello went to her to find out why they wouldn’t stick. “It’s easy” she said, “I go to Eli.” “Eli?” he said. “Yes Eli, the woodcarver. I sit with him in his workshop.” “Why?” “Why don’t you go find out for yourself?” “He won’t see me.” The girl walked away. So he went up the narrow path to the top of the hill and stepped into the big shop. He looked around and saw how big everything was and then saw the size of the hammer and said, “I’m not staying here,” and turned to leave. Then he heard his name “Punchinello?” “Punchinello how good to see you.” “You know my name.” “Of course I made you.” Then Eli reached down to pick him up, he looked at him and said, “You have been given some bad marks.” “I didn’t mean to I tried really hard.” You don’t have to defend yourself to me. I don’t what the other Wemmicks think.” “You don’t” “No, and you shouldn’t either . . . I think you’re pretty special.” Me, special? My paint is chipped, I can’t fast or jump high. Why do I matter to you?” “Because you’re mine. That’s why you’re special to me.”
Head toward God you matter to Him.
Finally, we are made with direction. Verse 17-18 tells us that God thinks about us. How precious also are your thoughts to me. He thinks about us. The Bible tells us His thoughts are not our thoughts. No matter what you think about, God thinks about you. Not when will we stop sinning and come home, but He thinks about us as special to Him. In fact He thinks about us so much, that His thoughts of us could not be counted. They are too vast. Not only are we in His thoughts, we are in His presence, if we are His children. And the passage ends with this wonderful thought, “When I awake, I am still with you.” The Hebrew here indicates that David is saying this is not a dream. Therefore, when dreams are over, He is still here with us.
Punchinello has never seen anyone look at him like this before . . . much less his maker. He didn’t know what to say. Eli then said, “Every day I’d been hoping you would come.” “I came because I met someone who had no marks.” I know she told me about you.” “Why don’t stickers stick to her?” “Because she decided that what I had to say was more important than what they think. The stickers only stick if you let them.” “What?” The stickers stick if you let them. The more you trust my love, the less you care about the stickers.” “I’m not sure I understand.” “You will, but it will take time.” Punchinello was lifted off the bench and set on the ground. “Remember, you’re special because I made you. And I don’t make mistakes.” Punchinello thought in his heart, “I really think he means it.” And when he did a dot fell off.
God never makes mistakes, we do. In fact, we fall short of God. If you haven’t figured it out yet, we are the Wemmicks and Eli is God. He cares for us because He created us. You are special to Him, so come to Him for the removal of your dots, just as Punchinello.