Last weekend we had an Estate Sale at my father’s house. He had always enjoyed going to Estate Sales himself, so he had acquired quite the collection. There were some valuable antiques, and there were some, well, interesting items to say the least.
My sister-in-law assumed the task of marking the items that were to be sold. She had done her research, and spent hours combing online sites and comparing like items so that she could give an accurate asking price.
One of the things for sale was a set of old cast iron cooking pots—the large ones—like cauldrons. These things were definitely old, and had obviously not been well cared for. They were rusted and covered in dirt. They had some cracks, and one was even missing a rather large 6-inch piece from its side.
We arrived very early on the first morning of the sale, and saw that the cauldrons were priced at over $500. Most of the family, including myself, were amazed at the asking price, and pretty much assumed my sister-in-law had gone off the deep end! Ain’t nobody gonna pay that kind of a price for those rusty, broken old pots!
During the sale, I was positioned at the money table just inside the front door, and so I had an excellent view of the little rock garden where the pots sat. For two days I watched people as they walked by the area, stopped, and then looked down to see the price tag. Every single person scoffed at the asking price; some rolled their eyes, some made snide comments about the broken condition of the cauldrons. No one was interested in purchasing them, however. Not one person made an offer.
On the final day of the sale, a man stopped by. He climbed down from his pickup, and lowered himself to get a good look at the pots. For a while he just looked, but then after a bit, he reached out, and brushed away some dirt.
That man bought those cauldrons. He paid full price because despite their condition, he knew their true value. He stepped up in the bed of his truck, and he loaded all the rust and dirt, the cracked pots and the broken pieces, and he carried them away.
It occurred to me that we ourselves, are those pots. And over two thousand years ago, a man stopped by. He climbed down from his heaven, and he lowered himself to get a good look at us. After a while, he reached out, and brushed away our dirt. Then he stepped up on his cross, loaded all of our brokenness–our guilt, our shame, and our sin, and carried it away. He paid the price because despite our condition, he knows our true value. When we let the world, or an abusive spouse, or our past tell us that we are worth anything less than the ultimate price that he paid, we dishonor him. We dishonor his sacrifice.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. –John 10:10
Just as those old cauldrons were sitting in a little rock garden, we too should be positioned on the Rock. And when we are–when we find our identity in him, and understand our true value–then no one who passes by and mocks us, rolls their eyes, or makes snide comments can cause us to cheapen ourselves.
The world may try and tell you that you are worthless, but remember……..Jesus thinks you are to die for.
Beautiful work!
so thankful he doesn’t, discard us when we are ugly, dirty with sin, and appear useless, he sees what we have been and what we can become, thank you Jesus for loving me and using Sherri to carry your Message!
Beautiful!!
Sherri,
I love you. I love your God given perspective. Thank you for sharing. God Bless.
You are a true writer. You give us this to ask if we want more. Of course!
Love my clowns and Sheppard wants me to buy the record player
You are so blessed in the way you can see God’s work in all situations. I enjoyed the comparison.
BEAUTIFUL comparison, Sherri. And your writing is fantastic.
Another great analogy. ….I love how He is in every aspect of our lives.
I can hear/read this over and over again. Each time it bring tears to my eyes. This is so powerful and should be shared with the world!! Truly a blessing!
You and you’re buddy JESUS, Amaze me!!!! So glad that you are writing. I knew that you were withholding a gift that no words can come close to explaining. Keep it up!!! You make my heart cry and smile all at the same time every time I read one of your blogs. Love you my friend and sister in Christ!
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Sherri hearing (reading) this again brings me to tears again. THANK YOU JESUS for LOVING an old rusty pot like me.
Wish I could share with the peeps on my FB page.
Simply amazing! Beautiful analogy and beautiful words. Thank you for sharing!
I can’t even convey how much I love this, and love even MORE that you wrote it. My heart smiles 🙂 Hope that book has been dusted off and is getting some time & attention too. A sleeping gift leaves the hands and hearts of those needing that gift empty. Wake it up and give it.
😉
God bless you my sister!
They need to make a Sherri Blog study group!!! Such good insight!!!
Is that a group you would lead, Jackie??? LOL Thanks, Love!!