Words of Hope: Where Your Treasure Is
A huge table in the center of our kitchen seats twelve people comfortably. This table is the focal point of our home, a place to eat, play, and write. Covered with marks, gouges, chips, and in one place, a huge spot where Natalya’s friend painted her nails and then tried to clean up. She used nail polish remover, which successfully removed the nail polish and removed the finish. The nicks on the table bothered me, especially the nail remover spot. One day I was intensely wiping down our table. My thoughts were full of frustration and irritation. “Why does our furniture get so nicked!” I thought, “Our table is just covered with scratches and marks!” While I was having this internal monologue of complaint, Shann was busy writing at the end of the table. Finally, I slapped the table hard, startling him, and said, “Look at this table!”
“I know,” he replied with rapture. “Isn’t it beautiful?” “Well, yes,” I conceded, “But it’s all marked up.”
“I love that about the table,” he replied. I was stunned.
“How can you love it when it has so many flaws? It’s got a massively noticeable blemish from that fingernail polish fiasco.”
“I know,” he said, “that’s my favorite part of the table.”
“You’ve got to be kidding; that spot is an eye-sore; I hate it every time I see it. ” I said to him.
“Not me,” he replied. “Every time I see that spot, I remember I am the father of three beautiful girls, their love of beauty has changed my life. The table symbolizes joy for me, and that spot is a special reminder of how blessed by God I am to be the father of these girls.”
Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
