I was quickly scanning the clothes rack when it caught my eye. I'd been scouring the thrift stores for weeks looking for a denim vest. And finally, I found one! I held my breath as I glanced at the size tag. Woohoo! Not only was it my size, it was one of my favorite clothing brands. Score! I did a mental happy dance, tossed it in my basket and made a beeline to the checkout.
I celebrated my treasure as I ran my errands. I was so excited I contemplated pinching myself; treasure finds like this one didn't happen often.
And then my celebration came to an abrupt halt. When I moved the bag it was in, something sparkly caught my eye. I pulled the vest completely out of the bag and groaned. Across the back of the vest was a large spider web, bejeweled in shiny rhinestones.
For the record, I don't like spiders. I don't like anything associated with spiders. I especially dislike their webs, no matter how beautifully they are spun. Every time I unexpectedly run into a web, it sends me into a panicked arms-flailing, screeching-frantically head-shaking is-there-a-spider-on-me episode.
So there's absolutely no way I'd wear anything sporting a spider's web, no matter how sparkly or seasonally fashionable it may be. Someone had discarded the vest; I'd bought it without looking it over thoroughly…and now I'd be discarding it.
But before I tossed it in the donate pile, I texted a friend who always decorates for each Hallmark holiday. I asked if she wanted it, but she said no. She followed with another text.
"Why don't you just take off the rhinestones?"
I replied it was too much effort. I shoved the vest back into the bag, contemplating if it was even worth the effort to return for a store credit.
However, the next afternoon, I found myself with tweezers in hand, plucking away at my shiny enemy. Some stones came off easily; others made me work at it.
As I worked, random thoughts crossed my mind…
Like how easily I get caught in the sinister webs the evil one spins. Webs of fear, doubt and discouragement. Webs of his whispered lies telling me I'm a failure, unloveable and a reject. Cunning and deceitful, he's a master at spinning a nearly invisible web; a web I fail to see until I walk smack into it.
But even more, I get snagged in the webs of my own making. The webs of unrealistic self-expectations. People-pleasing. Presumed responsibilities. Tainted perceptions. Purposeless distractions. The not-good-enough lies I tell myself.
As I aggressively and impatiently picked at the rhinestones, I thought about how often the Lord has to pluck away my imperfections. Unlike my merciless attack on something I found unpleasing and unbecoming, the Lord deals with my ugly attitude and behavior with tenderness, mercy and grace. I'm thankful He's patient with me…a flawed work in progress.
My heart sank when I removed the last rhinestone. The spider web design was still very much evident by the residual glue imprints. I considered throwing the vest in the trash. I wasn't sure it was worth the effort to continue working on something that may not yield the result I wanted. Yet, if I quit, I'd never know the outcome.
So I began the slow task of trying to dissolve the glue spots. I blotted isopropyl alcohol on the offending dots and then tossed it the wash. I noticed a little improvement, so I reapplied the alcohol and tossed it back in the washer. I repeated the cycle another three times…and finally, the spider web was gone! While it had been a lot of work, I was thankful I didn't give up. The vest had been redeemed and was now useful!
And then my thoughts all came together…
The Lord values and redeems the broken, useless and discarded. He does not give up on me. He has meticulously woven Himself into the fabric of my life and clothes me in His love. I am designed in His image, for His glory and His purpose. And He alone is the source of my sparkle.
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” - Revelation 4:11
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