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DECEMBER 30 – JANUARY 5 2025: The Promised Restoration Goes Forward
By Lisa | Published | No Comments
A new year. A new course of study. Let me start by telling you about our roll-top desk.
We pass it as we come and go each day, dropping our sunglasses and handbags and Covid masks onto its top for easy retrieval as we head out again. Its drawers and cubbies are full of useful items – folders, pens, coloring books, crayons, and more. Its rolled cover is usually closed, hiding stuff, and junk. And it has a history.
Cleanse Restore Renew – Iryne Rock
Brief version of the roll-tops’ history: It was built perhaps less than 150 years ago, although by old-world standards 150 years is still quite young. Generation One (Great-Grandparents): New desk was delivered to central Utah territory and into a home of a simple farmer. At some point there was a fire and the side of the desk was scorched. Generation Two (Grandparents): Desk was tucked into a work shed to be repaired from fire damage, but it was covered over and generally forgotten.
It’s all too easy to forget, to hide away sorrows. Yet to grow from them we must keep them in remembrance, while not dwelling in them. Anciently, the Israelites set a stone to remember God’s hand in helping them win in battle. They called it the ‘Stone of Help’ or Ebenezer. A popular Ebenezer today would be the symbol of the cross – a remembrance of sacrifice and atonement. Because ‘every Ebenezer points to where my help comes from”. (Chris Renzema- Just As Good. Song below)
The Old Rugged Cross – Alan Jackson
Roll-top history Generation Three (My parents): It was moved into its next home and given a fresh coat of paint which covered its nicks and scars.
Just As Good – Chris Renzema, feat. Ellie Holcomb
Generation Four.One (Me): I carefully took it apart and stripped the paint, revealing the natural beauty of the wood and yes, the scars. It was gently sanded, oiled in linseed and given a protective coat of natural varnish allowing the imperfections to be seen. Put back together again, its uniqueness is cherished because of its story. Generation Four.Two: Several years later, the fabric beneath the rolling slats deteriorated and broke apart. My husband expertly removed the slats from the old fabric backing and glued them to a new fabric. Good as new, nicks and all.
Why am I telling about our desk? Because I can relate to it. Damaged, shoved aside waiting for a time to heal, scars covered over, then stripped and bared. And somewhere through all of that is found purpose and beauty – even in the scars. And when I break again, I can again be repaired. Restored.
The desk is periodically cleaned out, its drawers and cubbies sorted. Then the top is closed over new accumulating stuff, and junk. As am I.
The Come Follow Me manual says that gospel restoration “started when one person turned to God and heard Him. It continues that same way: one heart, one sacred experience at a time–including yours.”
Our desk will outlive us, and will pass to another generation, then another. Who’s to say what renewals it will find. But I hope that it will always be valued for its beauty and purpose, and treasured for its history through our family generations. The same can be said for our love and testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Restored – Shawna Edwards
May you continually find cleansing, restoration, and renewal as you turn to God with a heart of gratitude, an ear willing to hear, and then to move forward.
What Song Caught You?