Under the Tarnish

My son Brandon was visiting last summer and saw me polishing my silverware. He asked “Mom, why are you using silver utensils?”
My simple reply was “Because I like it.”

I love the feel and weight of holding a silver fork and I enjoy the beauty. The set I have is my husband’s grandmother’s wedding set; it’s gorgeous and worthy to be seen and enjoyed.

As I sat outside polishing my treasure, I surveyed them and saw that most of them didn’t look too bad, I had just polished them a few months prior, but there were some pieces that had slipped to the bottom of the pile in the drawer. I searched for them as I knew they were there, mingled in with some other non-silver items. They were in pretty bad shape and would need some extra attention and muscle, but that was okay because I knew the beauty that these pieces held under the surface…under the tarnish.

I didn’t love those pieces of tarnished silver any less because they had more tarnish on them; in fact I took great care and pleasure in bringing their shine back and placing them on the pile with the rest of the pieces where they belonged.

Some of the pieces have little dents, from many years of use. These marks distinguish them from the rest. That too, doesn’t matter to me because they’re still beautiful. The markings tell me that they’ve been a part of our grandmother’s table where wonderful gatherings were held. There is a rich history in this old set which makes them even more special.

I place these utensils together on my table and prepare to have guests; with every gathering they help bring a lovely atmosphere…each piece in it’s proper place.

I’m grateful that God sees me, like I see the hidden pieces of silver. He searches for me and He knows exactly what I need. I’m grateful that He picked me up from the bottom of the drawer and isn’t worried that I’m covered in tarnish. (He’s not satisfied to leave me the way I am.) I’m grateful that He knows my potential and He sees what’s under the tarnish and no matter what’s there, it’s okay. He takes pleasure in restoring my soul. He heals the broken and binds up their wounds. And if there are scars and marks on my life, that makes no difference, because I am His and He sets me at His table, where I belong and where He delights in me.

He provides a beautiful place for me and not only me but you too. He invites us all to dine at His table. He searches for each one and desires to make something beautiful out of our lives. Whether we’re a tarnished mess stuck at the bottom of the pile, or whether we’re doing pretty good and not in need of much polishing, He looks at us with great anticipation for what we will become, because He not only loves us but He likes us too.