Wednesday, October 25, 2023

SCULPTING—THE PROCESS!

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3.  (NKJV).


“I don’t feel like it.” Grandfather walked over to Timmy, felt his forehead.

“No fever. Pain?” Timmy mumbled, stretched out on the sofa. Grandfather covered him with a blanket. “You rest.”

A few minutes later Grandfather came into the den with his coat. “You’ll be okay while I’m gone?”

“Where’re you going?” 

“Thought I’d run over to Charleston. I have some errands...”

“Charleston? Let me grab my jacket.” Grandfather’s eyebrow arched.

“I wouldn’t want you to go in your condition.” Timmy dipped his head.

“Sorry, Grandfather, guess I was feeling sorry for myself.”

Grandfather draped his coat on the back of a chair. “Want to talk about it?”

“I’m tired of everyone telling me what to do. At school, at home...” 

Grandfather smiled. “You think that now but later you’ll realize you're being sculpted into a fine young man.” Timmy's lips twisted.

“Remember when you used to play with clay? You’d work on something until you had it right. Then you’d bring it to me to admire. I still have the little dog you made that resembled my Jack. I treasure it.”

“You kept it?” Timmy’s face, wreathed in a smile, watched Grandfather nod.

“That’s what we do when we love someone. We keep the things they made us and protect them--like the commandments of the Lord.

“When I think of how God loves me, I’m amazed. He gave His commandments for my good, never to burden me down.”

“He's sculpting me? He loves me that much?” Timmy shook his head. "That’s hard to understand.” Grandfather hugged Timmy.

"It is but it doesn't make it any less true. You're that important to Him."

"Wow. If He loves me that much, the least I can do is...what can I do for Him?"

"Love Him with all that you are! He's awesome and He'll show the way."

Kingdom Thinking. The love of God is difficult to understand. I know He loves me and will never leave me, but at times I feel unloved and alone. Then I force myself to remember he’s sculpting me. He loves you, too. You don’t have to understand, just accept His love. It will not be a burden.