Becky and I recently bought a chest. But it wasn’t “just” a chest. There’s a story behind it. A lineage of sorts.
Her father, Bubba, built it as a gift for his mother-in-law (Becky’s grandmother). It is made of cedar and stands about two and a half feet tall. The exterior finish has a dark, molasses stain, while the interior is raw and natural. A gold plaque on the inside lid proudly states its builder’s name, its recipient's name, and its date of creation.
Becky’s grandmother owned the chest for several years until she passed away. Her daughter, Julie, inherited the chest. Unfortunately, she did not take care of it, but it remained in her possession nonetheless.
Now back to the beginning. As previously stated, Becky and I bought the chest, the owner being Julie, her aunt. In a roundabout way, the chest was transported to Northwest Arkansas. Needless, to say, Becky was giddy.
When we went to pick it up, we could tell it had been neglected and mistreated. Rather than the crisp, fresh scent of cedar, a stale odor of cigarette smoke engulfed the chest. Scratches and dings had worn the finish. A thin film of dust had settled on the lid and the sides as well. The hinges were bent and somewhat buckled. In short, it looked rough.
But Bubba being the chest’s creator, volunteered to take it home and return it to its original form. A few days later, Becky and I were summoned: the chest was ready. Upon seeing it “new,” I was stunned to see the transformation. The scent of cedar wafted around the room. The stain was returned to the original dark chocolate hue, the scratches and dings a thing of the past. New hinges smoothly lifted the lid, opening the source of the sweet cedar smell. I could see in Becky’s eyes how much she cherished the restoration.
Similarly, I couldn’t help but think of how God truly restores. Like the chest, our lives are gifts from Him. So often, we choose our own way and scuff and chip and dent our lives. Sometimes gradually. Sometimes in a flurry. But only when we give our lives back to the Creator & Builder of Life thru His son Jesus can we find true restoration. He knows exactly What He created, How He created, and Why He created. He buffs the scratches. He fixes the brokenness. And when He’s done, the sweet aroma of Life reappears, and our souls are restored to reflect His Handiwork and Glory.
