SESSION 1

WE ARE WONDERFULLY MADE

For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

— Psalm 139:13–14

In this session, your tween connected with the Psalmist's claim "I am wonderfully made," and explored the concept of being knit together in light of God's love for each of us.

The session laid the theological foundation for future sessions that focus on practical concepts such as body vocabulary and reproduction. Faith connections are what make these sessions a rich and meaningful experience for participants. Long after they have memorized the names of their body parts, they will need to know that God loves them, made them just as they are, and is always with them.

How does being made "wonderfully" make you feel?

As a parent, how does this passage resonate with you?

How does it change the way you see your tween?

We closed our first session with this litany, inspired by Psalm 139.

God, you know me better than anyone, even myself. You know what I'm doing, you even know what I'm thinking.

When I move around or when I lay down, when I walk or sit still, you always know where I am.

There's nothing I say that you haven't already figured I'm going to say.

God, you know me inside and out.

You are in front of me to guide me, behind me to protect me, and I feel your hand on my shoulder, so I know I'm not alone. That's almost too good to be true.

God, you know me inside and out.

Is there anywhere I can go where you are NOT?

Not any place that I know. Can I run fast enough to get away from your Spirit?

God, you know me inside and out.

You yourself created all my parts. You pieced me together in my mother's womb. You did an excellent job making me, and I thank you for that. You are amazing. That's for sure.

God, you know me inside and out.

You've known me forever. Your eyes could see my arms and legs, even before they were fully formed. Day by day I grew bigger until I was finally me with all my parts, ready to be born.

God, you know me inside and out.

I'm amazed by your deep thoughts, O God; the number of them astounds me. I couldn't possibly count them all, because there are more of them than grains of sand on the shore. If I were to count them it would take forever, and by then I'd be as old as you.

God, you know me inside and out.

If I soar into the sky, you're there. If I lay down in the dirt, you are there too. If I fly like a bird to the middle of the biggest ocean, and then dive down into the waters, I wouldn't be surprised that you're there, too, to guide me.

God, you know me inside and out.

If I say, oh my God, I feel like it's the darkest night even in the middle of the day, I'm so sad ... you tell me, it's alright. Dark or day, I am with you.

Figure out who I am, God. Then let me know.

Look into my deepest thoughts. I'm glad to have you here with me, to help me and lead me back to you.

God, you know me inside and out. Amen.

SESSION 2

WE ARE UNIQUE

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

— Isaiah 64:8

In this session, your tween claimed their uniqueness in the eyes of God, explored the messages that the media and culture send around bodies and sexuality, and created personal affirmation statements about God's love for them and their uniqueness.

Dear God, help me to live each day knowing that I am created by you. Your hand has made me and holds me tight. You are like a potter and I am like clay. Thank you for all you have done for me. Help me to remember that you are my potter not only in what I say, but in what I do as well. All praise be to you, O God. Amen.

In Isaiah, we read how God is the potter and we are the clay, the work of God's hand.

What does it mean to be the work of God's hands?

Think about the gentleness with which you parent. How does this gentleness reflect in your parenting? Write some of your thoughts and insights here.

Sometimes, we can forget that we are wonderfully made and that we are God's handiwork. In light of our being God's handiwork, what are some of the pressures about your body that you have experienced?

What are some expectations that you feel pressured by?

THINKING ABOUT YOUR TWEEN

What are some of the pressures you feel related to their body?

What are some expectations that you feel?

Your child explored the idea that God has created each person to do very special things. Your tween learned that we are created by God, in God's image, and declared "good" just the way we are; and your tween learned that sometimes when we begin to grow up, we become self-conscious about the way we look and compare ourselves to others.

If you were to whisper words of encouragement to your child, what would that encouragement be?

What message might God say about your tween, about their growing up, or about their body?

SOME EXAMPLES OF AFFIRMATIONS

The tweens claimed affirmations for themselves in this session. As parents, which of these affirmations do you claim?

I am the handiwork of God.
God knit me together.
God loves and accepts ME.
God loves me. So I can love me, TOO.
I know who I am and I am enough.
I am perfectly made
God loves ME!
My body is my vehicle in life; I choose to fill it with goodness.
God gave me life. I am grateful.
My life is unfolding beautifully.
God made me perfect!
I am enough, really enough, just the way I am.
My body is a gift from God.
It is not for me to decide whether my body is good enough or not.
My body is a divine gift, a temporary home for my soul.
My body and I are designed perfectly!
There is a reason I look exactly the way I look, even if I don't always like that.
What Other People Think About Me Is None of My Business!
Comparison is the thief of joy.
I am perfectly imperfect!
Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.
I am a child of GOD!
I am gifted.
I am gifted by GOD!
I am wonderfully made.
God made me, and God doesn't make junk.
My face is divinely created!
I am beautiful.
I am enough, I am so enough — it is unbelievable how enough I am.
My life is a wonderful journey, not a list of TO DOs.

Choose one or two affirmations to bless your tween.

Thank you God for all of these perfectly and uniquely created tweens! You are an awesome Creator. Thank you for making me the work of your hand. Sometimes I forget how cool it is...