The Lapidary

I went back to work today....whew!  I'm tired, but my day was full of sweet surprises and hugs from both kids and wonderful co-workers.  One of my students gave me about a million hugs today.  I love hugs from children.  I also love how excited kids get to give you gifts they picked out. 

One of my students was literally jumping up and down as I opened the gift they had chosen for me.  It was the novel, "Secret Garden", and this little basil plant.  Another student informed me that they wanted to make sure that I knew that they had "spent 50 of the points they earned at church for that (a magnetic notepad)".  Hahaha...I laughed out loud.  I was told to leave the room at one point, and when I came back, they had all hidden and jumped out, yelling, "SURPRISE!!!" and flooded over to give me this book they had all drawn and written in.  The back of the book ,"Happy Holidays!" 

Oh, the joys of teaching young kids...I may try to take pictures of some of the cards and post them at some point. 

A co-worker of mine gave me this amazing book called "Streams in the Desert".  I have read quotes from the book (and posted one or two) in other books, but have never seen an actual copy of the book.  The coolest part is that it is the actual book that her family has passed around during seasons of heartache.  She told me to read April 17th's entry (Matthew's birthday).  I want to share a little from that day's writing (it is long, but SO worth reading):

"The hand of the Lord have wrought this." Job 12:9

Several years ago, there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world's history.  It was presented to the King of England to blaze in his crown of state.  The King sent it to Amsterdam to be cut.  It was put into the hands of an expert lapidary.  And what do you suppose he did with it?

He took the gem of priceless value, and cut a notch in it.  Then he struck it a hard blow with his instrument, and lo!  the superb jewel lay in his hand cleft in twain.  What recklessness!  what wastefulness!  what criminal carelessness!

Not so.  For days and weeks that blow had been studied and planned.  Drawings and models had been made of the gem.  Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with the minutest care.  The man to whom it was committed was one of the most skillful lapidaries in the world. 

Do you say that blow was a mistake?  Nay.  It was the climax of the lapidary's skill.  When he struck that blow, he did the one thing which would bring that gem to its most perfect shapeliness, radiance, and jewelled splendor.  That blow which seemed to ruin the superb precious stone was, in fact, its perfect redemption...

So, sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life.  The blood spurts.  The nerves wince.  The soul cries out in agony.  The blow seems to you an appalling mistake.  But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God.  And He is the most skillful lapidary in the universe.

...As you lie in His hand now He knows just how to deal with you.  Not a blow will be permitted to fall upon your shrinking soul but that the love of God permits it, and works out from its depths, blessing and spiritual enrichment unseen, and unthought of by you....