Dishes...and a Divine God...

It's been a love of mine for decades.  Even as a little girl, I loved dishes.  I remember my Grandmother saving me cut glass dishes found in oatmeal boxes many years ago. "Someday you will have a home of your own and you can use these," she said as she handed me the latest additions to my collection.  I would hold those new treasures tightly as we traveled back up the mountain toward home.

When I graduated from college, my Mom gave me a beautiful set of china.  She certainly knew that I love dishes.  I later learned that Mom made payments on  that china set for a very long time after she gave it to me.  What a sacrifice. As time passed, precious ladies in our located ministries gave me a favorite dish of theirs to "remember them by" later.  Of course, I cherish each beautiful piece we have.  But even more so, I cherish the love, kindness and lives of those precious people who will always have a place in my heart.

Recently, I visited my parents in Virginia for a few days.  Of course, that also meant visiting my lifelong best friend.  Karen and her Mom also know of my love for dishes and have been so kind to add to my collection over the years.  Karen's Mom handed me a box and told me she had found this at a thrift store.  If I wanted it, I could have it.  If not, I didn't have to take it.  When I opened the cardboard box, I saw a beautiful tea set!  Sitting in that thrift store, it had accumulated much dust.  But I saw an amazing collection unlike any other I had seen...a treasure full of beauty, originality, love and purpose.  I immediately accepted the gift with gratitude and tears.  As soon as I arrived back home, I carefully unwrapped the pieces, handwashed them and displayed them as a reminder of someone's love...and a lesson well-learned. 

Sometimes we may feel dusty, forgotten, abandoned and pushed out of sight.  Maybe we feel like an old dish sitting on a thrift shop shelf.  But God sees beauty in our lives.  He looks beyond the thick dust, the newspaper wrapping and the cardboard box.  He sees beyond our flaws and recognizes beauty, value, purpose and restoration. He washes away our dirt, renews our lives and provides opportunities for us to share His love with others. 

Thank You, God, for the dusty tea set.  Thank You for renewing my life.  Thank You for seeing what others may have trashed...as Your treasure...Your child...whom You love...forever.  <3~thl

Matthew 18: 12>14