In my spare moments, one of my favorite pastimes is the work of restoring old furniture.
I smile as I write this, because as a mother of 8, spare moments are hard to come by. But occasionally the opportunity does present itself, and I inevitably turn my attention towards my next project piece. There’s something gratifying about helping an old, rundown hunk of junk become an object of priceless beauty, that brings me great pleasure.
My favorite piece to date, is an antique secretary desk that I discovered at a nearby garage sale. It immediately caught my eye, as most worn down, old furniture typically does.
It was late in the afternoon, and I’ll bet that desk had been overlooked by most. Mistaken as worthless junk.
But my eyes saw something different. I saw what could be…
Attempting to contain my excitement, I approached the owner of the desk, hoping that he might not realize the value of the treasure that had caught my eye.
No such luck. He was no fool. He firmly stated his price, and without hesitation, I made my purchase.
Like its owner, I was well aware that although she was shabby and unstable- lacking in grandeur- I too knew what she could become.
As soon as I got my new project home, I inspected her thoroughly. Her legs- missing hardware- were wobbly and unstable. She was marred with deep scratches and warped wood from years of neglect and abuse. Her color, once lustrous, was now faded and dull.
Running my hands along her rough edges, my mind reeled with possibility.
I had my work cut out for me- no doubt- but she was well worth it.
Thoughtfully, I prepped her for the hard work she was about to endure.
I steadied her legs by tightening the screws and bolts- making her strong and sturdy- able to withstand the agitation that would occur during the restoration process.
With a damp rag in hand, I carefully cleansed her from top to bottom, removing the dirt and spilled juice that had left an unsightly stain deep within her grain.
Beginning with paint stripper, I worked to remove her old coat of stain. The process was messy, but oh, the beauty of the bare wood that lied underneath!
Reaching for the palm sander, I removed the lingering residue covering her surface. As the sandpaper made contact with the bare wood, it began to smooth away the rough edges, evicting the scratches and dents from past afflictions. The stain ran deep, but with constant, subtle pressure, it would eventually relent.
Standing bare before me, my mind began to wander. What would this desk say, if it could talk?
Would it scold me for the seeming abuse I had inflicted upon it?
Would it question my devotion to tenderly care for it?
Would it fear that I was stripping it of its character- of all that had marked and defined her?
I smiled as I thought on these things, and I was instantly encouraged to finish the work.
She didn’t know it yet, but I was preparing to make her magnificent!
Gripping the tack cloth in hand, I wiped away the remaining dross and grime.
Now begins the real fun!
With the use of wood putty, I began by filling the cracks and holes, leaving no room for anything foreign to penetrate the deepest parts of her again.
Her surface was smooth and soft. Flawless.
I gave her a fresh coat of stain. Oh, how she came alive!
But before I could declare her finished, it was necessary to seal her with a protective clear coat. This process guaranteed that she would be able to hold up under pressure. There would certainly be those who would fail to see her value, and treat her with carelessness again. This time, however, she would be protected.
As I stood back and admired the transformation, I could not quench the desire to show her off.
I placed her in an area of our house where she would be seen and adored. A place of honor.
What once was dull and worn, and in desperate need of care, was now beautiful beyond all compare.
Stunning!
I smile.
My thoughts immediately turn to our heavenly Father.
The way He cares for His children is not unlike my work with the desk.
He usually finds us when we are broken and unstable. Mistreated and abandoned. Covered in filth and proudly adorning our scars.
Heartsick, He quickly scoops us up in His arms, determined to rescue us from a life of hopelessness and despair. Without so much as a flinch, He gladly offers to pay the ultimate price; the death of His only son.
For He knows our true worth. It was He who has made us.
Searching us, He perceives our inmost thoughts and deepest wounds, and He gently prepares our hearts to be transformed.
He girds us up by his precious Holy Spirit- under whose wings we find our refuge.
He does not shy away from the hard work that lays ahead. He knows it will take time, and the road will be hard, but He is in the business of making all things new.
Tirelessly, He works to remove the grime and dirt that covers us. The scars are deep and the stains are sure, but His loving hands meticulously work- sanding away at the our hardened hearts.
It hurts.
We question His goodness. His treatment of us. His love.
Tenderly washing away the dross, He smiles.
The painful part is over. Now begins the process of making us new.
Pouring out His Holy Spirit on us, He fills our emptiness with the glory of His love.
Every crevice, filled to overflowing.
We are given a new coat. Gone is the sin and shame that once consumed- replaced by robes of righteousness.
Standing back to look on us, He gleams with pride & adoration. And He declares that it is good.
Beloved, our Heavenly Father desires nothing more than to restore us to Himself. To a life of purpose, beauty and joy. A life that is cleansed from our past sins. A life where our wounds are healed and we are made whole.
Won’t you let Him?
This is a beautiful post Rachel! I love it! It’s a great reminder of the love and care our Father has for us as his precious daughters.
Thank you Annie! I so appreciate your kind words. Such care He has for us. <3
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Beautiful analogy!!!
Thanks Hilary! 🙂
I love how Jesus makes all things new. It doesn’t matter who we are or where we’ve been, He can restore us and make us pure; holy. Just like Him. And though we still stumble and fail, He will continue His work until the day of completion when He calls us home.
Yes and Amen to that! And boy, don’t I know it!
Thanks for visiting Heather! <3
What a lovely post, I am not gifted in this way but I do see things differently. I’ve never tried to restore anything, except with words and care. I saw someone take one of those old 30’s or 40’s dressers and make it into a desk, I think that would be a great idea and I would love to have one.
Restoring others with words and care is most often what is needed! What a great way to look at it!
Thanks for stopping in Rebecca 🙂
Oh, my! What a beautiful picture of what our Heavenly Father does for us! Wonderfully written and so easy to relate to!
Thanks Sabrina! He is such a good and caring Father! <3
I love this! We are so lovingly healed and brought into our true beautiful selves by our Heavenly Father. Who I believe smiled, just like you did as you worked on the piece of furniture, as He works on us! Thank you for this beautiful post!
Aw, thanks Donna! You’re always such an encouragement to me.
Yes, His restoration brings us into our TRUE, beautiful selves! Love it. 🙂
your comparrisons are so relatable as i read !
Thanks Jiselle! What a pretty name! 🙂
Loved this. Amazing that the Father can see in us what we don’t often see in our selves. It awesome that he sees our potential just like you did with your desk
Yes, isn’t it so awesome! He ALWAYS sees what we so often fail to.
Truly an encouraging and beautiful post! Thank you for linking up with #writerwednesday this week!
Thanks Heather! Absolutely my pleasure. <3
Rachel, I love this. Such a beautiful analogy. — And, how neat that you can refinish things. I bet that is cathartic. I’d like to do that sometime when life affords me an extra hobby. 🙂 It’s fun to visualize what “could be.” 🙂 — Happy New Year! Hope 2018 is good to you. xoxo
Cathartic is right!;)
Thanks for the encouragement, Brenda! Praying a Happy New Year over you, as well. <3
Happy New Year Rachel! I LOVE doing projects in January when everything slows down a little bit with the cold weather. I hope you’ll post pictures of the outcome 🙂 Blessings this week!
Happy New Year to you, Meg! I actually no longer have this piece.:( I was working for a restoration shop in town when I wrote this. It was sold shortly after. It still is my hubby’s favorite project piece, that I’ve restored, to date!
You are such a talented writer, Rachel! This post is one to savor and share. Blessings to you in the new year, friend!
Thank you Sarah! Praying you have a blessed New Year too! <3
Rachel, this was right on time for me today. Thank you!!!!
Happy New Year 🙂
I’m so glad! Thanks for reading Lyli! 🙂
Hey Rachel Lee we are neighbors at Char’s today and I’m excited to hear that you refinish furniture. Have you heard of Zibra paintbrushes? I work for them. Want some brushes??? Your secret santa that wasn’t so secret!!!
Hi Susan! I have not heard of Zibra paintbrushes before. Are they especially designed for refurbishing furniture? I’ll have to look them up. I’d certainly be interested in giving them a try. 😉
What a fantastic piece! I totally don’t see anything in the old furniture that my husband brings home, which is ok because it all gets used in the shed for work benches, but I totally understand relating this back to God. Scheduling for fb and pinning!
Thanks Lizzy! I appreciate your support! 🙂
Beautifully written! I love the way you refer to the piece of furniture as “she”; it foreshadows all the amazing work that God does to restore us. I love that He sees us for what we can become even though no one else can!
Sharing on Facebook.
Have a blessed New Year!
Thanks Ruth! I’m SO glad that God looks beyond what is seen with the natural eye, and sees in each of us, something special and unique and beautiful beyond compare! He is always calling forth that which is still hidden. Knowing that He believes in me, encourages me to believe in myself!
So glad you stopped by! Blessings to you! <3
Love this, Rachel! You are a great storyteller!
Thank you Meghan! I appreciate the compliment. 🙂
Beautifully written. Thanks for sharing on the #LMMLinkup. I needed this reminder of His restoration process in my life.
As always- my pleasure! Don’t we all need this reminder from time to time? I know I do!
Thanks for stopping by, Mary. 🙂
Beautiful analogy, Rachel! And you are so talented.
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