Short Stories
In a beautiful forest there were several varieties of trees. A logger had been instructed to chop down as many different kinds of trees as he could. He chopped down birch, beech, pine, redwood, cedar and many other kinds.
The logger took them all back to the mill where the pieces would be sold for firewood, used to build furniture for stores and other uses.
There was a beautiful piece of cherry wood this day. However, it wasn't a big enough piece for furniture. It was at the lumber yard for days. Than a rough, burly man came and bought the wood. Finally someone noticed the value in the piece of cherry wood. He took it home and placed it in a leaky shed with a tarp over it. The tarp verily covered the wood. It sat in the shed during the cold, the rain, and the snow. It became warped from the harsh elements.
The man came out to the shed looking for wood to build a shelf and to get wood for the fireplace. The cherry wood was set aside in the scrap pile. The man tossed the warped cherry wood hitting the wood stove and making a huge nick in the wood. Now the wood was no good to the man. He picked it up again and tossed it in the pile for the fireplace. As the man was burning the wood stove a small spark from the fire landed on the wood causing a small fire to breakout. The man grabbed a bucket of water and threw it on the fire to extinguish the fire.
The wood was burnt and charred. A knock came at the shed door. The man opened the door, it was the gentle craftsman, who often came by to buy the scrap lumber the man had.
The craftsman saw the warped, nicked, burnt piece of cherry wood. He looked at it and smiled. I want that piece of wood. The man laughed all of the wood in the scrap pile is better than that one piece of wood. The craftsman insisted saying something under his breath about taking ashes to make beauty.
Once the craftsman had the wood home. He could see all the burdens, and damage this beautiful piece of wood had sustained. Some of the damage was very deep. He began to work the wood plainning, sanding and designing it.
Once he was done he had a beautiful keep sake box. He was pleased with his work. The box still had a small dip from the huge nick, it still was beveled because of the water damage and dark spots from the fire. But it was still beautiful. The problems, damage and trials from its life had scared this wood forever but it also made the wood have beautiful and unique markings. The craftsman had taken something that was hopeless, with ashes and made something beautiful.
Isaiah 61:3
”...To give beauty for ashes. The oil of joy for mourning...”
Our lives become marked with hurts that we cause and sometimes from others. Our lives can seem hopeless to us because we see our situations and circumstances. But even though our lives are far from perfect God can take the scars and ashes of bitterness, doubts, fear, anger and all of our hurts to make a beautiful life that will glorify Him. We just have to allow the Master Craftsman to have control. Just remember with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.
God bless you!!!
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 959 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Dawn Stone or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 959 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.