The Bookcase

Why do we suddenly have a memory of something we can’t recall ever thinking about before?  It happened recently and had me on another writing adventure.

  I grew up with many playmates, as my Mom and Dad were foster parents to several children.  My memory takes me back to when I was around 10 yrs old. I was playing with a foster brother while visiting Grandma & Grandpa Hope.

We were wrestling in their den, when I accidentally pushed my opponent into a glass door bookcase.  No one was injured, not even a cut, but the bookcase was not as fortunate.  One of the glass paned doors was smashed. 

If my Grandpa Hope was upset he didn’t show it. I was hoping that his last name would work to my advantage that day. It did. I was not even punished. Maybe my guilt and apologetic response was enough.

Among being a well known photographer in the county with his own dark room, Grandpa Hope was knowledgable about a lot of things. Much of what he learned, he read about and was stored in that bookcase.  I come to love nature because of the many books he collected. Rocks, birds, and insects were just a few topics I found in the pages that rested on the shelves of that bookcase.

One of Grandpa’s many hobbies was working with stone. He taught himself how to cut stone and make beautiful polished jewelry and furniture from ordinary rocks. 

The next time we visited Grandpa’s house I was surprised to see a very unique and fashionable rock structured insert centered inside both doorframes replacing the area that was once glass.

It was almost like my mistake created an opportunity for Grandpa to make something beautiful from a shattered mess.  It gave him another reason to be creative and do what made him happy. 

My my…..I’m overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit right now while writing this. Such a rush of His fullness. Beauty from ashes comes to mind.

…He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.
Isaiah 61:3

Didn’t Jesus come to fashion our lives in such a similar way?  He protects us from harm when our glass cased lives become shattered. 

Just like the many beneficial books that were not damaged inside that bookcase, He shields our hearts from permanent pain and injury. He cleans up the debris. He takes what was broken and makes something beautiful.

He restores.

He forgives.

He brings hope.

We deserve punishment, yet He spares us.  

Jesus comes on the scene and says…..”It’s ok.  I am going to make something unique and enjoyable out of this circumstance.  I’m going to do this because I love creating newness. I love doing what brings Me pleasure. I love doing these things because I love you.
What is seen and defined by others as ordinary when it comes to you, I will cut deep into the heart…into the center of stone coldness and bring warmth, healing, purpose, and a joy that surpasses what you have experienced before.  Ordinary is not a part of My definition for you, because you are Mine.”

I will now forever cherish my young and old memories of the bookcase.

Lingering Thoughts:

God made you to be unique and special.

God made you for a purpose.

God does not keep score of your mistakes.

God will protect you from harm.

God loves you!

* Photos by Hope Smith Grant

All other photos by Create228studio