A LITTLE POLISHING

How about another post about my beloved “rocks”?

I mentioned yesterday how I came by this love honestly – my grandfather loved rocks, too.

And for a time, he made jewelry with rocks.

My grandparents lived about four hours away, but we visited them often. And I can vividly remember one time when we arrived…

“Nana, where’s Papa?”

“Oh, he’s out in the shop, polishing some rocks.”

WHEE!!

I ran out there lickety-split! The rock-polishing machine was very awesome. It basically tumbled the rocks, over and over, while washing a steady stream of water over them.

Ugly, dull, shapeless rocks would turn into beautiful, rounded, colorful rocks – just by tumbling them around against each other.

Hmmm…

Good lesson here.

Doesn’t God choose to do the same thing in our lives?

He often uses other people to “tumble” up against us, to “bump” into us over and over – as He seeks to smooth us out, and make us beautiful.

We can all think of people that just “rub us the wrong way.” I remember an author many years ago that called these type of people, “irregular” people. (I think that’s a much nicer name than a “pain in the neck!” – sorry about that!)

They just get under our skin, and annoy us, and make us crazy. We try to avoid them.

I have some people like that. I’m not proud of saying that – but it’s true.

And sometimes when I think I’m being very spiritual, I’ll pray for them. I’ll pray for those irksome traits to be changed.

But the thought occurred to me not so long ago, that those VERY PEOPLE are placed in my life for a reason. And it might just have something to do with ME.

God wants to tumble me…

It isn’t about THEIR irksome, annoying traits – it’s about MINE!

God uses “irregular” people to bump up against me, to smooth me out, to release more of His beauty to shine through me. I have plenty of ugly, rough edges in me.

I’m not shiny –

But God is working to perfect a good work in me – and sometimes that involves a little roughing up.

And through this entire process, He continually washes me with a steady stream of His living water…

Oh, Lord – I need to pray about MY heart. Give me the grace to see other people, especially the ones that annoy me, through Your eyes. Help me to understand that You have placed EVERY SINGLE ONE of them in my life for a purpose. Grant me patience for the “irregulars.” After all, you died for me when I was an “irregular” person. Teach me to die to myself, and to accept the process of being “tumbled.” And Lord, help me to be kind and merciful as I “bump” up against others.

Make me a smooth, polished, colorful, beautiful stone in Your Kingdom!

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6)

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