Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Scars: Lessons from a cutting board

Encouragement can come from the strangest place and just when you need it most. Isn't it funny how that happens? I bought this cutting board at one of my favorite local antique shops. Like most cutting boards it is well used, showing lots of cuts and knicks. If it had been smooth and unused I would have passed it by. Its well used, marred, distressed, worn look is that special something that I am looking for when I go to the antique store. I will crawl under benches, and dig through boxes, move stuff out of corners to see what is hiding close to the wall; I'll stretch to reach the barely reachable top of a shelf and will step back, not to see the whole area, but to see individual items that I can't see while I am standing surrounded by so many pieces. Stepping back allows me to focus in on one piece among so many. Yes, I will search high and low to find those well used and scarred items. As I painted this board, I admired the roughness of it, the worn-ness, the scars and it brought to mind Christ's work in me. Like this piece I was scarred, forgotten, used, tossed away. But He saw me, one among so many lost and discarded souls, and He bought me when I was worthless; purchased me for a price I could never repay. As I watched the scars on this board change into something beautiful as I applied the paint, I thought of how He makes all things beautiful in His time; not removing the scars but using them to enhance the beauty. He would know about scars, He has scars made beautiful too.

When I was finished painting, I ran my hands over the scars on this board and was pleased with it. I hope when He is finished with me, He will be pleased. If you have scars that only remind you of failures, hopelessness, hurt, pain, loss; give those scars to Him and see what He will do. You will be surprised. After all, He will crawl under benches, and dig through boxes, move stuff out of corners to see where you are hiding; He will stretch to reach the barely reachable top of a shelf and even stoop to the lowest place just to reach you. How do I know? Because He did it for me.

11 comments:

The Farmer's Attic said...

Amen Willa!!! Praise the Lord - He did it for me as well! If we never meet here on this earth, I know that we will meet in heaven some day.

Thanks for sharing!

Lucy

Country Prims said...

What a lovely thought-don't we have such a loving Saviour?
Thanks for the lovely reminder,
Blessings, Shazy x

countercrafts said...

Oh Willa! That is wonderful how you compared us to the scars on the cutting board and what Jesus Christ has done for all of us! Thank you, Jesus! How Blessed we are as Americans, to be able to tell others about our wonderful Lord! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with your blog friends. Take Care and God Bless! Donna, gmills4@suddenlink.net

Imseeingraggedies Nutt said...

Absolutely love the board, but love the story behind it just as much!
(((HUGZ)))
Nutt :)

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

you do wonderful work..love the colors..:)

Debra said...

What a wonderful talent you have! The old board turned out beautiful!!

Valley Primitives Gift Shoppe said...

Absolutely beautiful post, I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. Your old board is just a beautiful! Thank you for including my stitchery on your side for the OFG Spring Giveaway.
Kim

Simple Home said...

I love how you used this cutting board in the analogy of Christ and how He works in our life. Wonderful. Thanks too for the sweet comment you left for my son on his birthday. He called from school to tell me how much he appreciated all of them.
Blessings,
Marcia

"B" said...

What a sweet witness for our Lord and Savior!

Angie Berry ~ Berry Homespun Primitives said...

What a sweet reminder of the incredible love our Savior has for us. Thank you Lord that you love us that much!

Your story brought tears to my eyes. I'm thankful for the sisters in Christ that I have met through blogging. I appreciate your willingness to share such a delightful story!

Have a wonderful week~

Crystal Martin said...

Willa, the board and the story are both so touching to me. I am blessed to have many scars that He has made beautiful as well.

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