Wonders How Can You Make a Water Buffalo Cute?

There’s just no way to make a water buffalo cute. It’s big. It’s hairy. It slobbers, for crying out loud, and yet this is the mammal my daughter chose to write her report on for fifth grade science class. Of all the mammals in the world, Erin chooses the WATER BUFFALO! I suggested a pot bellied pig. We could put little nose prints on the poster and curly, little tails popping off the poster board for the 3-D effect. But no, Erin had to choose a WATER BUFFALO! And do you know why she chose a water buffalo? Because Veggie Tales has “Silly Songs with Larry,” and he sings a song called “Everyone’s Got a Water Buffalo.” On any given day she will be singing that crazy song as she meanders through life.

So, how in the world do we make this project look cute? Seriously! Any ideas would greatly be appreciated! There are limited pictures on the internet, so this could be a real challenge. There isn't even a picture of a water buffalo in the Veggie Tales song, but did she think about that? PLEASE!

How does one make something that is unattractive into something beautiful? The quote, “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear,” comes to mind. How do you take something that is a big, nasty mess and make it into a tasteful report? I don’t know why this is so difficult. I should be a pro at this because I’ve gotten so used to making my life that can be so unattractive or a big, nasty mess into what appears to be something tasteful. Words I’ve said. Attitudes I’ve held. Lack of faith, doubt, impatience, tolerance and intolerance, and just blatant sin in my life I try to dress up, cover up and march into the presence of God as if I’m just as precious as can be. A sow’s ear will always be a sow’s ear. A water buffalo will always be a water buffalo even if you put a tutu on it. No matter how we dress up our lives, no matter what we present to the world, God sees beyond it to the heart of the matter…to the water buffalo underneath. The thing about God is He created the water buffalo. He designed and created it with specific intentions. It’s when we take the water buffalo out of its natural habitat and try to make it into something God did not create it to be does it (the water buffalo) look ridiculous. Sometimes we just need to accept ourselves as the person God created us to be, confess our sins, stop putting on airs, get real with God, lay prostrate before our Creator and ask Him to purify us, to heal us.

I remember Isaiah 6. Isaiah had been in the presence of God Almighty. Hearing the seraphim crying and calling, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah had been in the presence of God Almighty, and in His presence Isaiah realized that none of his acts, none of his service did God any favors. He realized just how unclean he was. He discarded all pretense, all pride and got real with God, “WOE TO ME!” When was the last time you got real with God? When was the last time you were honestly in His presence worshipping Him and realized just how unclean and unworthy you are? Isaiah was cleansed, and God sent him out. Let God cleanse you, restore you, make you into the creature He intended you to be.  Lay down your tutus, your cuteness, you high dollar clothes, your status, and be who He wants you to be. There’s no other life like it…the one of a redeemed child of God serving and living as the creature He has designed you to be. There’s freedom in it. There’s peace, and there’s joy.