I have this beautiful little pair of boots that I wore when I was about four years old. I would not wear any other shoes 🙂 I was obsessed with horses and those boots transported my little mind to places that were filled with horses racing from one field to the other. I’ve kept them all of these years because when I look at them I think of my dad and how he would take me to the stables on Saturday’s to watch the girls ride.
If anyone looked at these little boots they would have tossed them aside. They became hardened after so many years and were not wearable for anyone. The only purpose they had was to keep my dad’s memory close to my heart.
It has been over forty years since those little boots were worn and all of these years later they have been restored. The amazingly talented women at Stagecoach Bags took my little boots and breathed new life into the hard, cracked and faded pieces of leather that held them together. The love and passion they have for their work took a piece of my history and redeemed it. I know it sounds like a bit much to say that my boots have been redeemed, but can’t everything be redeemed?
What about our hearts?
There have been times in my life when I wanted absolutely nothing to do with God! I was especially angry when my mother died and my first child was only five weeks old (and diagnosed with hemophilia). I was also angry when my dad deteriorated before my eyes….taking a strong, energetic man and having him bedridden at the end of his life.
But God can handle my being angry…..He has never left me.
He has loved me when I was angry and loved me when I doubted.
He loves me when I am lost and even when I question everything.
He even loves me when I don’t love myself.
God is amazing! He has redeemed each and every one of us. It doesn’t matter what has happened in the past, we have been forgiven and redeemed from all of it. Now don’t think it’s okay to go back to your old ways and do more things that aren’t pleasing to God…..that’s not the best choice. But when we hold on to our past too tightly and refuse to let go and live the life God has intended for us to live, we just may miss out on the blessings yet to come.
I know my life has been redeemed. I am working everyday to accept that fact. Sometimes it’s hard to understand what redemption is all about. And until I completely accept the good things God has for me, I am going to pray and work to live a life that shines with the light of Christ.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, You are mine.” -Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
Today I Am Thankful For
- Stagecoach Bags
- Tears of happiness
- Chiropractors
- Mass mailings
- Calls to old friends
