Gather the Pieces
“Gather the pieces”
John 6:12 (NIV)
Today’s verse is one of my two life verses. Normally when I write, quote, or teach on this verse, I’m using the broken bread pieces as a metaphor for gathering the pieces of our life’s disappointments, failed dreams, suffering, grief, and heart aches. But this morning as I referenced these words found in John 6:12, just the words “gather the pieces” jumped from the page and into my heart. And just as I usually try to provide context for Jesus’ words, I decided to provide context for some of the items featured on the new Bible Bits website. Most of these pieces are valuable only for the personal meaning and memories they represent and include:
My grandmother’s old oak chest rescued from her back porch and destined for donation to Good Will. When I acquired her chest, it was covered with layers of white and yellow paint and stuffed with old newspapers. Bruce and I stripped and re-finished it and have now enjoyed its beauty in our home for the last forty years.
An heirloom antique brass spoon rest – an inherited treasure from Bruce’s great aunt Margaret who purchased the “Bonnie Scotland” piece as a souvenir from her trip to Scotland.
My Bible, journal, note cards, prayer calendar, and favorite pen reminding me to be a “woman of the word,” both written and spoken. A good pen is essential for journaling. John Piper says, “There are eyes in pencils and pens.”
A hand embroidered blue and white table runner on my dining room buffet handed down from my grandmother to my Mama and now to me. I’m sure my grandmother never envisioned her delicate basket needlework being featured for a ministry that is built around baskets, loaves, and fish (John 6:12) but God surely did.
Family celebration photos taken at weddings, holidays, and gatherings featuring my children, grandchildren, and extended family members. Those are the folks who continue to bring me great joy.
Elegant, yet delicate, hand-embroidered blue and white doilies edged in Mam-Maw’s signature tatting.
My Granny’s pound cake- my favorite “go to” comfort food. That cake reminds me of my Granny’s gift of hospitality. Her life could be summarized with the sentence, “If you’ll come, I’ll cook.” She cooked a lot and I honestly don’t remember going to her home and not seeing a pound cake on her kitchen counter.
Mama’s white cut-work table cloth serving as the backdrop on my dining room table.
Sterling silver forks and spoons that were wedding gifts from my parents.
Blue hydrangeas, my favorite flowers, cut from my friend Melissa’s yard.
Casual blue and white china purchased years ago from the now closed China Closet in Vestavia Hills. The coffee in the blue and white coffee cup is O’Henry’s Hazelnut blend. A cup of that coffee in the late afternoon is like drinking dessert.
My wedding rings represent 101 years of marriage; 56 years for my parents and 45 years for Bruce and me.
The “Grandchildren are the treasures of a long life” tapestry featured on the first page of the Bible Bits website. I made and gifted my Mama the framed tapestry for Christmas in 1979. Our daughter Meredith, Mama’s first grandchild, was born that year. When Mama died, I brought the piece home and hung it in my living room. That tapestry has proven to be the gift that truly keeps on giving.
Two special cookbooks given by a friend who knows that I read cookbooks like some folks read novels. I read them not just for the recipes, the food, or even the pictures and photo styling. I read cookbooks for the stories they tell and the people they represent. At my deepest level, I’m a story teller, but I don’t just want to tell my story. I want instead to tell the greatest story ever told- the story of the Bible- God’s great plan of redemption and salvation for the world.
The Woven and Wise Woman’s Bucket List bookmarks represent years of Bible study and teaching for women of all ages and stages of life: children, young moms, and ninety year old Faithful Followers. Those two visuals have been used in dozens of Sunday School classes, retreats, seminars, and Bible study classes.
And last, but not least, the Bible Bits books and devotionals themselves written over the last sixteen years, verse by verse and piece by piece.
All of these beloved pieces were gathered and brought together under the watchful eyes of designer Holly Hollon and photographer Mary Margaret Smith. Together the items combine to produce a beautiful tapestry representing not just a web site, but also my heart for encouraging and equipping others to study God’s Word for themselves. The gathering process helps to provide proper perspective for the individual pieces of our lives.
All of us have life pieces that need to be gathered and given to God. Only in His hands can our pieces be used to multiply and feed a hungry and needy world that desperately needs to hear the good news that God still saves sinners.
Gather, give thanks and gain perspective; then go and tell the Greatest Story Ever Told.
Gather the pieces. (John 6:12)
Amen and Amen,
Donna