The Nine-Noodle Necklace

My son was just a toddler when his class at daycare began learning numbers and the alphabet. He was excited to recite each letter and identify an animal or object whose name began with the letter.

Then came the letter N. Cameron was so proud to present me with his latest class project: a nine-noodle necklace. He'd painted nine large tubular pasta and strung them on a length of colorful yarn. The next morning, he made sure I was wearing it to work, which, of course, I did.

Throughout the day I attended meetings and conducted business, happy to explain the origins of my unusual accessory.

Was it the most beautiful piece of jewelry I'ver owned? Of course not. I'm sure I got a few disapproving looks from colleagues.

But the value of my nine-noodle necklace came from the giver, not the gift.

Recently, the Lord reminded me of the nine-noodle necklace. I was lamenting the effects of aging on my body and how much I despised them, when he whispered, "Long life is my gift to you. Why are you disparaging it?"

Whoa. Are the veins on my legs or the gray in my hair any less attractive than my toddler's paint-splattered noodles? Not when you consider the Giver, who said:

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. (Proverbs 16:31)

The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. (Proverbs 20:29)

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? (Job 12:12)

So I will embrace this gift, with all its thorns, because I know the Giver. He is good, all the time, and he gives good gifts. Lord, let me wear this gift with thanksgiving and give you the glory!

Battle Weary

And so, the battle rages. My armor slips from time to time; my body has the scars to prove it. Still, I fight.

Jesus, 128. Satan, 0.

I'm so glad the battle has already been won. God could end it at any moment, but he lets it wage. Why? I think I know.

Fighting ...
... improves my strategic skills.
... strengthens my resolve.
... deepens my faith in the One who aims my sword.

So I continue the fight. But I'm never alone. So thankful for a battle plan that is sure to succeed.

Changing Lanes

I've realized that while I'm cruising along in the blessed lane, Satan is always just around the bend setting up road blocks, detours and hazards. There's nothing he wants more than to make me lose control and drop out of the race.

I hate to admit it, but sometimes it works. Once I've gotten back on the road, I find that I'm careening down a lane that is marked with disappointment, disillusionment, anger and frustration. Blessings? Those were so yesterday. Like a spoiled brat, I stamp my figurative foot and demand answers now. 

Then, after a good night's sleep (or three) and time spent alone with my Navigator, I'm able to cruise back into the blessed lane. I look back on my lapse with shame. How could I doubt the Saver of my soul? I consider all that He has done for me. I begin to see opportunities in the road hazards that threatened my journey. They were there all the time, but my vision was not as clear in that other lane.

Thank you, Lord, for a new perspective, for your mercies that are new every morning. Thank you for your grace that allows me to return to the beauty of the blessed lane.

Worth the Price

What are you worth?

I suppose there are days when many of us would answer, "Not much." We don't feel up to the challenges of life or we give up when situations don't turn out the way we planned. It can leave you feeling worthless.

I struggled with that issue when my daughter left for college last year. In my eyes, my value was intertwined with my role as mom. This "job" was the most satisfying, the most fulfilling task I had ever undertaken. My children have turned into wonderful people. I love being with them.

Who am I once they are both out of the house?

My husband is wrestling with this concept now. After 21 years, his company eliminated his position -- and most of his department -- and he finds himself job-hunting in the worst economy in nearly a century. He always said his job was not his life; he enjoyed aspects of his work, but it was not the most important thing to him. But now that it's gone, he is left wondering, "Do I have any value?"

I wonder if some of the men and women of the Bible who were commended for their faith in the book of Hebrews faced such questions. Surely Sarah contemplated her worth when she and Abraham were looking at 100 and still had no children. She was not a mother; who was she?

From the depths of the pit into which his brothers had tossed him, Joseph must have doubted his worth. Sold for a few shekels to some passing Egyptians, Joseph knew the value of slaves. They could be replaced. Easily.

Rahab the prostitute knew the price men paid for her services; was that the extent of her value? When Joshua and the Israelite spies showed up on her doorstep, did she hesitate to ask them for protection from God's impending wrath? How dare she?

But of course, Sarah, Joseph and Rahab took their places in Christian history as part of the lineage of the Messiah. They proved invaluable to God's grand plan. So where do we fit into his final chapters?

Scripture tells us that our value was stamped on our heart before we were ever born. God deemed us so valuable that he was not willing to lose a single one of us. How much would it cost to redeem us from the chains of sin?

One Lamb. Pure and spotless, without blemish. The ultimate sacrifice who would take away the sins of the world. Only Jesus could stand in our place and take the punishment that we deserve.

The Bible says some people might be willing to die for a good person, but few would lay down their lives for someone who was not worthy of such a great sacrifice. Jesus covered both, and everyone in between. What a high price to pay -- for a barren woman, a Jewish slave boy, a prostitute, an out-of-work father, even me.