Today...I was dragging, and my clouded mind thought it was due to the fact that I did not sleep much last night because of all the heart-racing fun that was going on inside my chest. But I realized it was probably because of my new habit of going decaf from now on...that started this morning. I'm not sure why I can't remember that cold turkey is a difficult thing.
But anyway...while I was staring into space in the direction of my computer monitor this morning, an email popped into my inbox. I noticed it was from my sister so I opened it immediately. She had written something so sweet for me and it reminded me that our relationships are one of the most important aspect of our lives. So...my sister, Patti, is my guest blogger today...
The Chipped Cup
When I was in high school I had a boyfriend. He was wrong for me in
every way. One day I realized that he was crushing my hopes to go away
to college, a college I had dreamed of going to for a very long time.
So after much thought, I decided to break up with him. We were drinking
pop (what we called the soda in the fridge at the time) from a glass
out of the kitchen. These glasses were supposedly unbreakable, but when
he threw his across the front porch, after I broke up with him, it
surely did chip. After that day you would have thought the glass would
have been no good and would have been thrown out, but for some reason it
kept showing up in the cabinet with its family of green drinking
glasses. Every time the glass was used it was a reminder of that boy,
the road I was headed down with him and the wise decision I had made
obviously led by the Holy Spirit. I assume the glass was eventually
thrown away, much like my memories of the bad experience of the break
up.
I tell that story because this morning when I watched my cup filling
with my yummy coffee I happened to notice a chip in my cup. The chip
made me smile because this time the chip represented a much happier
memory. A while back my sister and her husband had traveled to Austin
during a weekend we were away - probably at a swim meet. They stayed at my
house and after the weekend was over my lovely sister told me that when
she was putting her coffee cup in the dishwasher it had chipped. So
when I use that cup it reminds me of my sister that I miss so much, and
of the time she and her husband were making themselves at home in my
home. She was very upset when she told me she broke it and probably
even asked if she could replace it. What my sister doesn't realize is
that she added value to that cup that day. The value in the chip comes
from the building of our relationship over years. I have known her her
whole life and have watched her grow and develop into a beautiful,
caring person who loves God above all. Often through the week I will
think of my sister and text her a thought, lyrics to a song or just
something I wanted to tell her. It makes me feel in touch and close to
her. Many times when something is eating either of us we will call each
other and vent. Inevitably at the end of the vent session the other
will encourage with God's Word. This relationship is so above and
beyond just being sisters. It is absolutely a gift from God. To be
able to speak truth into her life and receive truth from her has been
the secret to many trials with raising a family and being married to the
same busy, high maintenance man for 23 years. I treasure my sister and
I treasure the chipped cup because it makes me remember to be thankful
for the beautiful blessings God has entrusted me with. So I sit here
and drink my yummy full cup of almond joy creamer in my coffee and I am
starting my day with a full cup. Full of joy and thankfulness.
Patti Thompson
12/4/2012
I love this for so very many obvious reasons. But, it makes me think, also, about how broken and chipped we all are. Nicks and cracks caused either by the ups and downs of life, our own past mistakes...or...by someone else. We are tempted to look at that and wish we were put together better; that we hadn't made that one decision; or that we had avoided that person when we had the opportunity. It's easy to devalue ourselves and the journey we've walked. But I believe when God looks at us, He thinks our brokenness adds value.
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