Many ,many years ago when I was in high school, my brother Lee gave me a birthday present. It was very special for several reasons. I have said it before that we were "partners in crime." we are 13 months apart and very close. In high school, he got a car for graduation. He therefore needed a job to pay for gas. He was only working part time so it couldn't have been much in 1975. As little as it might have been, he set aside enough to buy me a gift. He bought me the most beautiful trio of vases I had ever seen. The center one was larger and rounder than the other two which were rose bud vases. They stood about 10 inches high.
Through the years, I broke one of the rose bud vases and had to toss it. After a few more years, I broke the second one by accident. Losing that one impacted me more. I was very saddened and I vowed to take care of the last one. With every move I wrapped it carefully and carried it with me. For over 35 years, that vase has been with me. In my current home, I have set it up high on a shelf where it can not get damaged.
Every time I looked up at that vase I was reminded of what I had lost. I was reminded that in order for that set to be complete, it would take the other two rose bud vases-which were now gone forever. With time, I have come to see the vase in a different light. Although the accompanying vases are now gone, this one remains. Rather than to see it as a loss, I chose to see it as a reminder of the wonderful gift my brother gave me. I choose to see it as the precious sacrifice my brother made many years ago to buy it for the sister he loves.
So it is with us. Perhaps we have been broken over a situation out of our control, maybe a relationship has been destroyed, maybe we see no hope. Take you eyes off of the situation and focus on the goodness and faithfulness of God and in His ability to restore. Cherish whatever is left and live in the faith that God is in control and He has a plan. Let go of what YOU can never bring back and know that God is at work. Psalm 80 states three times "Restore O God Almighty..." Let His love be a reminder to you that He can restore the broken....and every time you get a reminder of what broke, focus on what God has restored-to His glory!
Restore us O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may that we may be saved. Psalm 80: 3,7,19
Happy birthday to my husband Mark.
No comments:
Post a Comment