An Old Blue Sewing Box

This past week my mother and I were doing a cleaning out of closets and drawers attempting to do away with those things that are worn out or that we just don’t use anymore.  As I was walking through the den, my eyes glanced at something very familiar on the floor.  It was my mother’s old blue sewing box.

“Mom,” I called out.  “Should we get rid of this old blue sewing box?”

“Absolutely not.” she answered and added, “That’s my special box,  You gave it to me when you were sixteen.  I remember you worked hard babysitting to make enough money to buy it for me.  It’s precious.  I never want to throw it away.”

I was very touched at her reasons for keeping this now frazzled and worn looking sewing box.  In her mind I had given her a precious gift, not because it is of monetary value, but because of what it cost me to give it to her; many hours of working because money was sparse.  I didn’t mind how many hours I had to babysit; I just wanted her to have it out of my love for her.

As I reflected on my mother’s love for this worn out box that no one else would want, a beautiful thought came to me.  When you and I look in the mirror, we may see lines on our faces and hair tinged with silver.  We may have failing eyesight and perhaps a roll or two that we wish would simply disappear.  As the years pass, we increasingly become like the worn out sewing box, but to our heavenly Father we are precious.  He would never throw us out because  we are very valuable to Him.  It cost His Son greatly to make us a part of His family.  Jesus gave His own life to be able to present us to His Father as holy, washed clean by His precious blood,  He did what He had to do on the cross out of deep love for each of us.  He willingly died that we may live forever.

Because of that wonderful unfailing love, one day these worn out bodies of ours will be made completely new!  Until then, we can rest on the promise of II Corinthians 4:16 & 18, “…Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.  So, we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

We may be like an old sewing box today, but tomorrow promises that we will be made whole; no pain, no tears, no sorrow; only peace and gladness for eternity.  We are indeed pilgrims just passing through this broken world until we reach the next, most glorious one.