Are You There God, It's Me Margaret...

 


In 1970, the book Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret was published.  The book was extremely relatable because it was about a 12 year old girl.  Since I was a young 12 year old myself - I loved it.


Now in all honesty I haven’t thought about that book in over 45 years, but yesterday, on my Managua to Miami flight, I saw the book had recently been made into a movie - and I chose it for my in-flight entertainment.

 

In film form, the story was just as sweet and poignant as the one I loved so long ago.  Watching it brought back memories of experiences shared with Margaret:

  • Asking my mom for a training bra and being embarrassed when she told my dad she’d gotten me one.
  • Wishing, nay PRAYING for puberty, and doing “we must” exercises in order to develop a chest
  • Practicing a kiss on the back of my hand
  • Watching a movie about "our changing bodies" and being both horrified and fascinated
  • Playing spin the bottle at a co-ed party, and experiencing my first kiss.

In addition to the shared experiences, I noticed there were lessons in the story that have remained constant, despite the passage of time:

  1. Puberty is a hard and awkward time for everyone.  Boy or girl, there are very few who feel comfortable in their own skin (especially those whose peers are developing faster).  I believe that God made each of us in His image, and that He didn’t make mistakes.  So I question the wisdom of a society that allows (and sometimes even encourages) children to make permanent alterations to their bodies because they are experiencing gender dysphoria.  “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” - 1 Corinthians 13:11
  2. Regardless of which religion we belong to, religious people ALL say they believe in God and that one of the major tenets of the religion is love.  If that is true, and love should always be our response when dealing with those who are different, then religious beliefs should never be a cause for division. “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. “ - Romans 16:17-18
  3. And finally - loving and serving your neighbor does not mean you always have to say “yes.”  The story of Mary and Martha teaches that It’s okay and important to take care of yourself and your own needs too.  "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'  'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.'" - Luke 10:38-42

Yes, Margaret - God IS there.  He hears you…and His wisdom is timeless.

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