A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to return to the congregation where I grew up in Louisiana. I was privileged to speak to women that have had a hand in raising me: teaching me Sunday school, accompanying me on youth trips. Many have prayed for me through the years and love my family because they are mine.
Returning to my family in Texas I considered where I am from and where I have ended up and the beautiful mosaic that God has created from all of the stops along the way. God has taken me to many different towns and places. Each place He has sent me many different women and people to mentor and love me throughout the years.
Thankfully, these gray hairs and wrinkles come with better vision -- not physical vision, that's declining with everything else. But my vision to see the broken pieces of my life being healed and used for God's glory, and the parts of my life that seemed pointless and a waste of time I can now see were all part of His tapestry for my life.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord..." Jeremiah 29:11
Many of the disasters of my life seemed to be pieces shattered beyond repair at the time, or tiny fragments completely useless for any purpose. But God. As I offered them up to Him as a sacrifice of praise -- or, let's be honest, sometimes threw them at Him in disgust and said, "What in the world am I supposed to do with THIS???" -- He gently scooped up the pieces, gently picking out the beautiful parts.
God continues to make me into a beautiful mosaic masterpiece. I can't see the finished product -- just a jumble of broken pieces. But I have lived long enough to witness the beautiful work He has done, and I trust that as I submit each tiny shard of my life, He can create far more beautiful than I could ever imagine.
Created from broken pieces -- unusable individually, but put together to become a beautiful work of His.
"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8
