One Thing New

Dear Daughters,

Several decades ago, Aunt Val gave me a cutting board she made in high school woodshop.  She had carefully cut out thin strips of various types of wood, glued them together, varnished them and proudly given it to me on my birthday.  I have chopped countless vegetables, fruits, nuts, and meats on that faithful board, but there came a time when I started using thin plastic cutting boards for ease of cleaning and storing.

One day Dad found that well-worn cutting board in the pile going to Goodwill and took it out because he had an idea of making it into something new.  As you know, I have been annoyed in past years when Dad wants to save things I would rather throw out or give away.  I’m sure I made some snide remark when he told me he was going to save it for a project because, of course, we all know about his black hole of unfinished projects in the basement.  What goes in  never comes out.   I quickly dismissed the incident from my mind.

Oh me of little faith.

Several months later he showed me his completed project.  From that worn out, cut up, beat up board he had made a beautiful table for my plants.  I was quite impressed.  Over the years that board had become so ugly, splinters coming off the edges, dull and useless (so I thought) but now it was transformed into a striking piece of art.

For over 15 years now it has faithfully held my favorite green ivy plant, curling and twisting around.  About the same time I put the ivy on this plant stand someone gave me a little decorative tile to stick in the dirt.  I really didn’t look at the words  imprinted on the stick, I just put it in the dirt because I liked the colors.  Recently though, I looked at that transformed cutting board and the words on the stick.

I make all things new. 

Revelation 21:5

I will admit, sometimes I am a very slow learner.  It takes years after I assent to something intellectually to make it a habit in my life.  Looking at the previously battered cutting board now transformed into a new thing along with the scripture in the ivy, I finally realized that this is precisely what’s happening in me and my family.  I used to be ungrateful, critical, quick to find fault with people.  But through many years of God’s faithful chiseling on my personality, I am learning to become thankful for the good gifts He gives every day.  I have learned to encourage and build up instead of criticize and tear down.  I seek to search out the good in people instead of focusing on the annoying traits.  Of course I still stumble and fall, but I feel like I am continually becoming a new person. 

All through the Bible, from beginning to end, in story after story, God is making all things and people new.  Look at Joseph, the self-centered, arrogant teenager bragging to his brothers about the dreams he’s dreamed.  God didn’t just say, Now you shape up, get humble and  quit bragging about those dreams.   Instead, God allowed circumstances in his life to humble him.  Tough circumstances like sitting in prison for many years, serving for a crime he didn’t commit.  Suffering worked humility into him, so well that he was later able to forgive his brothers for all the evil they had shown toward him.

And then there’s Moses.  As the young Prince of Egypt, he was ready to swoop in to help his fellow Israelites escape their cruel slave masters by murdering one of them.  Again, God didn’t just give him a stern lecture, telling him to change.  He provided 40 years as a shepherd on the back side of a desert in order to humble and fashion him into someone who would eventually become a fearless, humble leader.

This is God’s way.  He is never in a hurry, but patiently, consistently and gently provides circumstances, bringing us to the end of ourselves and opening our eyes to our need for Him.  Every day is a new day, as he is molding us to be more like Him.  Just like an artist, he chisels and creates us to be like His gracious personality.  And the really cool thing is when just one person starts becoming new, it becomes infectious to others in the vicinity.

Of course, marriage is a major chiseling tool for God to bring changes into our personality.

For a time I felt like Dad’s and my relationship had become battered, worn and dull.  But when I invited God to help me love, teach me to respect, and speak the language of peace and forgiveness, He began to make our marriage new.  So………even if you feel like your marriage is beat up, full of slivers, and just plain worn out – never fear.  God makes all things new, as long as you let Him have His way with you.

As Tim Keller wisely says:

In some mysterious way, troubles and suffering refine us like gold and turn us,

inwardly and spiritually, into something beautiful and great.

Accept with an open hand whatever comes your way, trusting your Heavenly Father who has the love and wisdom to mold you into his likeness.

Love, Mom