What's in your treasure box? Maybe you have things like I do. A thank you note that my daughter wrote to one of her teachers in fifth grade. Pictures of friends from elementary school whose names were long ago forgotten. Tickets from some movie seen thirty years ago with my future husband. A plastic ring that I once thought was a fabulous jewel. There are some pins I received for regular Sunday School attendance. Inside my box there is nothing that anyone would want to steal for its monetary value. Inside my box are things that bring back precious memories as I gently look them over.
I was sitting here listening to CeCe Winans sing Alabaster Box. It made me think about the things I treasure. Would these things I have tucked safely away be things I would be willing to pour out at the feet of Jesus? Are they things that would be worthy of such an offering? Probably not.
Precious oil. Valuable and costly. Worth a year's wages. Stored in a fragile and delicate vial made of alabaster. The very best. That's what Mary poured out, washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair.
Listening to the words of the song, I am struck at how I have settled for second-best. I have a heavenly father who adores me. He gave his very best for me. I don't fully grasp or accept that sacrifice. Yes, I have placed my faith and trust in the blood that Jesus shed for me. I understand and believe. I don't live like I do. Instead, my treasure box is filled with worthless momentos. What would my life be like if I dumped those things and allowed the Lord to fill my box?
I think there would be things like the view I have right now. My daughter and her sweet friend Sara are parting for the summer. After two days of giggles, secrets, and fun, Sara is heading to camp. At the end of summer she will return to Berry, but Caitlin will head to Virginia for graduate school. What do I see right now? The two of them beside Sara's car, facing each other, holding hands, praying. Not a quick Protect Us As We Travel prayer. Deep prayer for each other to be who God created them to be and live it out in the different places they will be.
There would be things like the song my girls and my dear friend sang yesterday at church. Shout To the Lord was the song. English, Spanish, and French were the languages. After they had sung it in each language, the three sang together, each in their native language. My Jesus, my Savior, Lord, there is none like you. I couldn't stand it! I leaned over to my husband and said, "We've got to stand up!" So, up we went. I stood amazed in the presence of Jesus that he has allowed me to be a part of touching the lives of people around the world, right here at home.
Another treasure would be seeing the Lord answer my heart's desire. He has opened doors for me to speak to women and share his Word. Through the dream of my friend, Jenn, I have the honor of standing alongside her and speaking to women for the cause of Christ. Soon we will travel to Haiti and once again speak to the pastors' wives and women of the church there. Last year we spoke to them and found out later that we were equipping them to step out into their own country, to the poorer parts of the land, on their own mission trip.
Most treasured in my new box would be the pictures of those Haitian women dressed all in white, riding a cramped bus, walking the paths of the provinces... and the smiles on their faces.
In my old box there might be worries about time I wasted, but tonight there is the precious time I spent on the porch after dinner with three college girls talking and laughing and just being together.
Evening has come and I am loving sitting on my back porch listening to the birds as they sing their final songs for the night. I am finishing up my nightly chat with my mom. The girls are watching a movie, my husband is at a meeting at church, and the day is done.
Thank you, Lord. The blessings you give are abundant and pure. May they be the treasures that I hold dearest to my heart.
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