Last March, our two daughters gifted Robin and me with a trip to Norway, my long-held dream…and accompanied us on the journey, adding to our delight! I wanted to purchase a quality silver teaspoon as a memory; something of value and taste…not the typical souvenir trinket. I ‘wanted’…but my oldest daughter ‘determined’ to make that happen, searching out a shop that crafted silver spoons.
Sure enough, we tracked down…and trekked down…the small store on a side street in Bergen. And I found my ‘perfect’ spoon. Delicate, shining, just right for that time of day when an English cup of tea is all you need.
Fast forward a few weeks and a hospitality moment: hosting two young men for a week-end as they enjoyed the sights of Seattle. The farm breakfast was finished and the dishes done…when Robin turned on the garbage disposal! Clanging jarred every nerve in mybody and out of that sink came my beautiful spoon…gnarled, twisted, pitted. I could have cried…but didn’t, remembering that it was just a spoon!
Not wanting to make a ‘hasty decision’ on the fate of that precious spoon, I let it ‘hang around’ awhile. Eventually, I decided I just couldn’t throw it away…it had too many memories, the latest being the young men and a breakfast meal together that was rich with personal sharing. So, I put the spoon back in my little black spoon holder (which actually is a garlic pot used for a purpose other than garlic) and continue to pull it out for my times of tea. Right now, it’s sitting next to my computer on a German bone-china cup & saucer set…a wedding present of 46 years.
Nothing has changed; it is what it is. But it has been redeemed…I put it back to work, using it for its created purpose. Apart from the memory aspect behind keeping this ‘treasure’ is the spiritual truth it reminds me of: I am what I am…a sinner saved by grace. Some of my deformities have been smoothed or re-shaped over the years of walking with Jesus…but I’ll never be without ‘spot or wrinkle’. That’s my truth.
However, I’ve been redeemed…restored to God’s original purpose for my life: a vessel for His glory. You see, He is greater than my deformities. And when I allow Him to be God in me, my very deformities become His instruments of grace. I can bemoan the deformities…or I can let God shine through them so that glory happens! The choice is mine.
In doing the latter, does that mean my deformities become my ‘status quo’ and there is no need for change? No, it just means I’m freed from the tyranny of needing to be perfect to glorify God. And because that is what I’m called to do, I can let Him change or use the deformities as He wills.
Yes, restored…a ‘bringing back’ to the original design. His work in me and my embracing that work.
The silver spoon? Well, it will stay the same…bent out of shape. Me? Re-tooled daily by God for His glory.
Marcia
