Driving Into the Storm

A few days ago, the kids and I were driving into town on our way to Tae Kwon Do when we came upon a storm. As we drove further into the storm, it went from a sprinkling rain, to a harder rain, to lightning and hail, to even more hail. After a few minutes driving in the storm, I caught a glimpse ahead of us of the edge of the storm and the blue sky on the other side. I told the kids, "I can see the edge of the storm. We'll be out of it soon!" But, the further we drove, the worse the storm got and the further it seemed to be to the end.

Finally, we arrived at Tae Kwon Do. I pulled up as close to the door as possible to let the kids jump out with their bags. Once they were safely inside, I pulled around and found a parking spot further away. Just as I was opening the door to get out of the van, the rain stopped and the sky became blue again.

Turns out, what I had thought was the end of the storm was actually the FRONT of the storm. When I thought I was driving myself out of the storm to the other side, I was actually driving further into it. My efforts to get through it only made things worse. Instead of trying to fight my way through the storm, what I should have done is STOP and BE STILL. If I had only been still a little while, the storm would have passed over me on it's own and I could have safely driven to my destination under a blue sky.

So often we do that same thing with the storms of life! We see a problem and we try to fix it on our own. But all our effort seems to only make things worse. In those times, what we need to do is BE STILL and let the storm pass by. Let the one who even the wind and waves obey calm your heart and get you through.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Handiwork

One of my favorite things to do in my free time (as if I have any of that!) is to craft. I especially love making homemade gifts for people. I enjoy receiving handmade gifts as well. They're the best!

For Christmas this year, a sweet friend gave me this super cute letter H that has been given a special place of honor among my treasures on the piano.

I absolutely love it! Not only is it pretty, but I also know how hard she worked on it and how much thought she put into it. Every time I pass by my piano and see it there, I think of our friendship and how much it means to me.

But, a funny thing happened the day she gave it to me and it sparked an interesting conversation among out little group of friends. We were having a Christmas party at our friend's home. As we opened the gifts out she had worked so hard on for us, she began to say things like, "Let me know if you don't like those colors", and "I was going to add some lace to yours", and "I messed yours up so bad." She spent several minutes pointing out all of the little flaws that she could see in her work.

Now, none of us had noticed the flaws at all. We were too busy admiring how cute and unique each one was. But honestly, now that I see them, the flaws are the part I like best. The little imperfections are the things that show me that my gift is a one-of-a-kind, that it was made by the hands of someone who loves me, and that there will never be another just like mine.

As I thought about this, a scripture came to mind.

Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. " (NIV)

 

 

For a long time, I struggled with this scripture because when I looked at myself, all I could see were the flaws. But recently, I have come to see my flaws through new eyes. Instead of seeing my imperfections as problems that make me less valuable, I've come to see them for what they are-fingerprints of the one who made me.

 

When God created me, it wasn't an accident or a mistake. He created me with love and for a purpose. He made me to fill a special place in this world that only I could fill. And, what I used to see as flaws are really just symbols of His love for me that let me know that I am a one-of-a-kind, made by the hand of someone who loves me, and there will never be another one just like me.\

 

 

I am God's masterpiece!

(and so are you!)