Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: HANDIWORK (01/14/21)
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TITLE: Susie's Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
01/20/21 -
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After a few minutes of observing, Susie asked, “Grandma, who are you making this blanket for?”
“Mary Jones, a lady from church, had a beautiful baby girl last week so I’m going to take this over to her when it is finished.”
“Why do you make so many blankets, Grandma? Every time someone has a baby, you make them a blanket. Why?”
“God gave me an awesome gift when I learned how to knit. I call it my handiwork. Do you know what handiwork means?”
Susie shook her head no.
“It means, ‘something that one has made or done’. I promised God, I would use my handiwork to bless others; and making and giving baby blankets is how I accomplish this goal. Watching a new mom’s face light up when I present her with a soft, handmade baby blanket brings my heart joy and I honor God.”
“Hmmmm” signed Susie. “Grandma, what’s my gift that I could use for God?”
“Well, Susie. What is something you like to do? Let’s make a list and see if we can figure this out.”
Susie ran to her room to get a pad of paper and a pencil. When she returned, she sat next to Grandma. Placing a ‘one’ on her page she looked at Grandma and said, “Okay, where do I begin?”
Grandma smiled as she said to Susie, “One thing I know about you, you like to color.”
“Is that a gift?”
“It could be, if you colored a picture that would encourage someone. You could put it in an envelope along with a nice letter and send it to a shut-in.”
“Awesome, Grandma! I’m going to put that on my list. What else?”
“You like to help people. Remember the time you helped Mrs. Jones plant her flowers? Digging those holes was hard work for her, but you made the job easier by helping. Or the time you walked Amanda’s dog when she was recovering from her operation. I’d say you have a gift of helping.”
“Really? Goodness I didn’t know that could be a gift. I’ll add that to my list as well. What else Grandma?”
“Well, Susie, what is the one thing you love to do more than anything else?”
Susie thought about this. After a moment her face lit up and she exclaimed, “I love to bake! Grandma, I love to bake more than anything. Is that a gift? Could that be my handiwork?”
Hugging Susie Grandma said, “That’s it, Susie. Baking is something you love to do and you are good at it. Especially making your sugar cookies with sprinkles on top. You could make your cookies and take them to our elderly neighbors. I’m certain they would welcome something homemade to go with their coffee during the day.”
Jumping off the sofa Susie said, “Grandma, can we bake cookies now? I’ll go get things ready, then you come and help me.” Off she ran to the kitchen.
Susie and Grandma worked together mixing and rolling and cutting out cookies, adding the sprinkles last. Grandma placed each cookie sheet in the oven; then carefully took it out of the oven when they were done.
Susie placed a dozen cookies into zip-lock bags, ending up with four packages of cookies to give away. Amazingly, there were two cookies left over for her and Grandma to have with milk.
“Grandma, I’m going to take these cookies to our four elderly neighbors. But first I’m going to go and color a picture for them. Something that will brighten their day and make them smile. I’m going to use the gift that God has given me to bring joy to someone’s heart today.”
“Grandma, will this gift bring a smile to God’s face too?”
“Absolutely! Remember the verse we talked about yesterday from Colossians 3:17? ‘And whatever you do or say, do it all as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.’ When you do something with God in mind, he takes great delight in your work. Yes, God is smiling at your handiwork.”
With a smile, Susie took her cookies and picture to four neighbors, representing God with her gift.
Scripture from the NLT
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