Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: The Family Home (05/29/08)
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TITLE: Who's Got You Covered? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mary Barrow Little
06/02/08 -
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My sister Liz and I were doing the dishes, trying to be as quiet as possible. As usually happens in that circumstance, something flew from our hands and landed with a loud crash on the floor between us. “It’s OK, nothing broken!” we chirped, endeavoring to reassure my father and relieve ourselves from the anticipated berating. To our horror, when we picked up the frying pan lid the shattered handle was lying on the floor. I very quickly picked up the remains and hid them from my father.
Whispered conferences with other siblings led to my brother Steve gluing the handle for us. He left instructions, be gentle with it! Well, two days later there I was with the broken pieces in my hand once again. How could I be so careless? The guilt! The shame! I was dreading the thought of my father knowing about this. Steve was called upon to sneak the lid out of the house for more extensive repair.
When Steve returned he had a wonderful story to tell. He told me he took the lid home and tried every type of glue imaginable with no success. As he was driving down the street he saw a kitchen store with a “Going out of Business” sign. Thinking they might have a replacement, he pulled in. The inside of the store didn’t look very encouraging; the entire inventory was gone and they where busy removing the shelving units. No point looking here he thought, the store was completely empty. Not wanting to walk out without speaking to the staff, he asked the woman there if she might be able to help him.
The woman turned, “Mable! Remember that lid that was hanging around here? Where is it?” Mable replied that she had thrown it away. “But wait, let me see if they picked up the trash yet.” She walked over and peered into the trash can. Bending low, Mable searched among the scraps of paper and bits of cardboard. “Aha! Lookie here!” she rose up triumphantly holding her find high in the air. The very last piece of merchandise in the store, and just the right lid Steve was looking for! The woman refused any type of payment for the lid, they where simply pleased to have helped. Steve left with the new lid and a great story!
My father passed away before the drama of the frying pan lid could be shared with him. Time was required to soften the edges of most “hidden adventures” in my family; time to allow the humor, or the wonder to shine through the fears that caused these stories to be locked away. His illness progressed too quickly for time to do its work.
When I returned to my home I shared this story with my friend Debbie. I wanted to testify about our faithful God caring about all things, even the smallest of details. However, she immediately saw a parable here. How often do we hide from our Father in heaven, not wanting Him to see our transgressions? How often do we take matters into our own hands and try everything within human means to fix the problem? How often do those “fixes” fail and we once again find ourselves in the same dilemma?
When she shared this insight with me I saw at once that it was no coincidence our problem was over a broken handle to a frying pan lid. Our Father in heaven has a “handle” on all things! In His time, in His way our broken lid was fully restored, made new. We were once again “covered”! May all our lives be covered by the sanctifying blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
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I'm not sure it connects with the topic, but I love the way it all worked out in the end.
Good job, Keep writing.