Wisdom in the Bottom Drawer

 

In the bottom of an old dresser in my parent’s room was a treasure waiting to be used. It was filled with handmade doilies, new pillowcases with lovely flowers embroidered with pastel pedals and stems, and Grandma’s old aprons. My favorite being the thread barren cotton aprons that showed the work that she had done. I can still see her with her faded apron to cover her house dress, as she worked in the hot kitchen. I have seen the floral aprons used as a hot pad, the soft fabric served also as a towel to dry her hands as well as a handy way to wash a child’s dirty face after licking chocolate cake batter from the mixing bowl. The beautiful new handmade things all laid in waiting for that special day when everything was perfect and good enough for such luxuries to be used. Being older, I have wished that I had the precious contents of that drawer in the bottom dresser drawer.  But the lesson that speaks to me today is worth even more than those special items. I do not want to be waiting to be used until a perfect time but as my grandma’s aprons, I want to be used up now.

Through the years I have heard unbelievers as well as believers speak of a better time to change their lives. I hear things like, "I'm going to get serious about my spiritual life when things are not as hectic as they are now, retirement is coming soon”. I will dedicate myself to God when my babies grow up. "I am not clean enough to approach a pure sinless God right now. Some who waited, still carry the fresh dirt of the world on their sandals as they try to get to the Savior to be cleansed. Still others say when they are old and don't want to have fun anymore, they will consider it. If only they knew of the joy that comes with our salvation. Sometimes, as my grandma's old aprons we feel we are used up and guilty of our past. Feeling unworthy, we wait until we get things in order. Can you see the repeating attitude here? Of course it is Wait. Maybe we feel better that we don’t exactly say no to God, but we can’t see that waiting is the same as no. Satan rejoices at the thought of those who cling to Wait. Even more we miss out on the treasures of serving our God. The sweetness of the comforter the Holy Spirit of our Lord.

Don’t wait to use those beautiful pillowcases or drag out those used up aprons and let God revitalize your somewhat faded calling to serve Our Savior.

Don’t Wait!

Glorious

 
Glorious
One of my favorites and yet haunting bible verses was uttered in a prison cell. Paul and Silas have been beaten, dragged and flogged before being put in stocks in a dreary dungeon. Amazingly these two servants of God, at about midnight, began to pray and sing hymns. Have you ever felt like Paul and Silas? I have felt beaten and flogged by life but unfortunately, I don’t remember singing at midnight. The most significant word in this passage is at the end where it is mentioned that “the other prisoners were listening to them”. Does that not catch your attention? In all our lives someone is listening and watching our lives. Many of those who hear are prisoners themselves in some way. Prisoners of hurt pain and sin. Does the chorus of your life sing out victory or failure. Most of the time we don’t praise God or sing until there is a victory when we are rewarded in our job, or just the right home is found and purchased or when a health issue is resolved but in reality we should sing hymns in praise to the Lord on all occasions. Yes, even hard things.
 
Across the vast four acres of the gigantic flea market where we had spent the morning digging through every imaginable thing known to man, I came across the familiar shape of an old watering can. The wear on the handle indicated that indeed this little bronze can had watered many thirsty plants in its day. The sweet watering cans have taken my heart since my youngest daughter died from cancer a few months ago. While she suffered, one special song gave her comfort. The song was “Flowers” sang by Samantha Ebert. And like my daughter this talented singer/songwriter suffered from illness and pain. Bedridden she prayed, “Why Lord, are you keeping me here?” Courageous to the end, my Mendy Jill trusted in her God. While the Master Gardener watered, Mendy scattered seeds to everyone she met. Seeds of trust, seeds of adoration for her Lord and the seeds of salvation. While in her valley she stood tall for her Lord telling everyone about the God of the Bible, but with her spirit she told of the Lord of her heart. Our sweet Mendy, like the song says, might have said also, “Lord, why are you keeping me here? To that I’m sure he said, child I’m planting seeds and I’m holding a watering can.” Someday you’ll see flowers grow in the valley. When asked what heaven was like, she gathered enough strength to raise her frail voice to say to me, “Glorious, just glorious, Mom.” Lost souls like the prisoners in the jail cell next to Paul and Silas heard singing and praising. The prisoners marveled at the God of hope these poor strangers sang about at the top of their voice. Mendy was unaware of those seeds of courage and love she planted in that valley.  All the while God’s watering can poured heavenly water on the waiting seeds. “Mendy! What is heaven like?” Glorious, just Glorious!
I will always remember the joy in her eyes when we packed up and moved here to be close to her. She squeezed my hand and said, Mama, we’ll never have to say goodbye again. On this earth, my sweet Mendy, we said goodbye one last time but never, never again. How will that be my sweetheart? Glorious, just Glorious!