The owner before me had gotten this from her parents. A momma, just like me, with hopes of restoring it to it's natural beauty. I got my power sander out right away. I hadn't done a project this big before, so I was nervous about messing it up; especially knowing it had come from someone who was hoping to see it restored. I knew I was going to learn a lesson with this piece. What I didn't know, was that the lesson wouldn't be about furniture, and sandpaper, and stain.
Recently, I have been wondering about what my "gifts" are. "Lord, open my eyes to what you would have me do when both my babies are in school. Lord, once the laundry has been folded, and the kitchen cleaned, what would I do to fulfill both our heart's desires." As I loaded the paper on my sander, I remembered Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's handiwork, Created in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Someone one explained that verse to me like this: It's like a chef's kitchen. All of the mixing bowls, and spoons, and spices and ingredients are there. God's given you the tools, you just have to use them. Start cooking.
I looked at my actual tools. A sander. Sandpaper. Sanding block. Some paint brushes. A can of stain. And the most important tool - the desire. And I started cooking....errr....sanding.
When I finished sanding, I was in awe of what was under the gumpy residue of being a tool storage bench in a garage for 15 years.
About the same time, Troy found a dresser at his storage unit. It was just sitting out, waiting for someone to take it home.
When I started sanding this piece, I realized that God was going to talk some more. He told me that even when I was this dark, scratched up piece, He wanted me. He knows my beauty. He knows my worth. He also told me I needed some work.
At times there were spots that were very hard to get the paint, and stain and varnish off. When it would get too hard, I would put on a fresh piece of sandpaper. God told me that I had to use the right tools. And to keep them sharp. My tools are my faith, my desire, and the word of God. I kept on sanding. The more I got rid of the old, the more beautiful this piece became.
I ended up finishing the hutch first and putting it on Craigslist to sell. The woman who picked it up said she was going to use it to display art work that kids complete at her summer camp. My heart swelled. If you know me, you know I have a soft spot for the arts.
And when I finished the dresser, I was once again reminded of 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old things passed away, new things have come."
So my prayer is no longer - Open my eyes Lord; rather, Sand me, stain me, prepare me that I might be ready to display Your artwork.
