It was 4:30 in the afternoon and I called my dad for a quick assist. Okay, the truth, there would be no assisting, when it comes to carpentry skills, I have, well none. The projects seemed simple enough. I had drawn an anchor on a board and I needed my dad to use his tools to cut it out. And two circles cut from another board.
No problem. “I’ll be back shortly,” I call to my family. “Half-hour tops.” I should have suspected my drawing, I mean tracing, wasn’t going to be sufficient. My dad is somewhat of a perfectionist.
First, he gets out His square. I mean really dad, it’s art. It’s supposed to look misshapen and out-of-proportion. Then, I knew we were in for it when the rulers and multiple tools were being drug out.
As my concern for my dad’s perfection is beginning to trouble me, I nearly found myself in tears. He was so much like my Heavenly Father in that moment, I was beyond myself.
Read last year’s Father’s Day Post, The Carpenter’s Daughter. You can get a taste for the kind of man my dad is. He is the hardest working; most loyal father a girl could ask for.
As my dad straightened the anchor with one mark, drew a curve with a smooth sail of his hand across the board, and worked his way around something I threw together, my art suddenly began to look more pleasant. I was realizing how often I bring that sort of mess to my Heavenly Father.
As I watched my dad work, I was so grateful for the details he was sketching out for me and erasing the mistakes I had previously carved. His hands slowly and meticulously moved over the wood as he held it in place and poured over the details. Then he held the wood against the saw and slowly carved out every detail and it was beginning to take shape.
I began to see the similarities in what our Heavenly Father has to do in us. We come to Him with our sinful, broken, misshapen hearts. We have done a complete number on them and we want to bring them in for the quick, painless fix.
We refuse, like I was, to work in his time and wait for Him to create a more perfected picture of who He wants us to be.
When he starts to get the ruler out to straighten our messes, we put up our guards. When the square comes out to make sure the line is in proper placement, we begin tapping our watches. We stand with our hands on our hips as he sketches out a new plan in a perfected working order. We try to stand firm in our ways as He gently erases the lines we have so deeply etched on our hearts. And we balk at the idea of the chisels coming out to shape us to be more like him.
As my dad worked on my “art” for over two hours, I began to appreciate the time and lesson my fathers were teaching me.
Our God wants to create a more beautiful picture of who He is in us. But it takes work, time, and some painful carving along the way. The results, however, are far beyond what we could have asked for or imagined.
My wooden anchor turned out way better than what I could have done and better than I initially brought to the table. My dad didn’t question the job he had to do to fix my mess. He humbly smiled and sent me on my way.
I now have a reminder of the anchor for my heart that leads me back to my dad who has always loved me unconditionally. Through his life, he has helped me form a deeper love and understanding for my Heavenly Father.
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What a great comparison you wrote about between your earthly father and our Heavenly Father. My husband is the same way with the tools, the getting it just right and you made me see him in a whole new light. Usually I am quick to say, "can't you just hang the thing, or cut it out or why does it have to be a big production." Shame on me. Thank you for helping me see this in a whole new light.
We have given my dad hassle for so long about taking so much time but when you really watch him work it has such beauty to it. He methodically puts it all together and it becomes more than we could have imagined. Thanks for sharing about your husband, I am glad this is giving you a new perspective on his work. Thanks for stopping by.
Jaime, what a beautiful example of how God works in us. I love the way God surrounds us with examples of His love and care through other people. Thanks for sharing it with us. Thanks, too, for hosting each week. You are a blessing!
God is beautiful and can make beauty from our messes if we are willing to release it and give it to him. I am with you, so glad to have those examples around us so we can appreciate Him all the more. I have been very fortunate in my life to have those kind of people.
What an amazing correlation and beautiful story, Jaime! It is so important to have that father and daughter dynamic, and it sounds like you both have a very special bond. Blessings to you my friend and thanks for hosting! Hope you have a wonderful week 🙂
Thank you much, Kelly. Fathers are so important for kids to have a healthy view of our Heavenly Father. However, in so many instances that is not the case. Fortunately God is in the business of fixing the messes and the situations that are not ideal. He has a way of coming along side of people and letting them know He is enough. So glad you are here, friend!
Amen! I understand what you mean though. There are several kids in our neighborhood that love when my husband is home, and I think it's because they are looking for that fatherly figure who shows them someone out there cares. Thanks for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week 🙂
What a beautiful analogy and story. I loved the memes, but wanted to see the anchor!
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Mary. I debated on putting it in their because it wasn't finished so I ran out and took a quick picture. I hope you enjoy the addition. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.
Jaime, Thank you for this! It blessed my heart this morning. I love the way you wove these lessons together. Absolutely beautiful!!
Deb,Thank you for joining us. You words and comments are always a blessing. I love how God intricately weaves the stories of our lives with His, it is truly a beautiful thing. Have a great week.
What a sweet story, and I loved how you compared your Dad to our Heavenly Father. I know He must look down on me in complete frustration at the way I hold on to my "projects" and won't turn them loose for Him to fix and complete. Enjoy your precious time with your Dad. I miss mine so much, and it seems that no matter how long they are gone, we never stop longing to see them. I miss hearing him say, "Everything's going to be allright." It always was, when he said that. Have a blessed day, and thank you for the link-up! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your heart, Cheryl and you wisdom. We always think our fathers are so strong and indestructible. We almost lost my dad about four weeks before my wedding a couple of times. It left him weak and frustrated. But he worked hard because he wanted to walk me down the aisle and have the father/daughter dance. It is amazing how daddy's can even make their grown girls feel like everything is going to be alright. Thanks for sharing today, Cheryl. Always happy to have you.
I love this. It is so like my husband and my father too. I can see our Father growing us as He teaches us perfection in our imperfection. May we stay near that we will become more and more the image of Christ.
Teaching us to be like Him, seems like it would be a frustrating job to most of us. But He is gentle, kind, patient, compassionate and loving and if we are willing He will lead us in tht direction. Quite amazing isn't it.
Quick and painless! yep, my preference! hit the nail, jamie – I want what God wants for me, but I'm not the perfectionist He is – grateful for His patience, loving work in me and for you! have a great day! sue in CA ps next to you at Jennifer's I think.
I know I have asked to God to change me quickly and painlessly. Sometimes I think He will other times, I believe we learn more out of going through a longer trial. We learn to walk with Him and be dependent on Him. I an with you, glad He is patient. So glad you are here, friend!
Wow..what a beautiful story Jaime. It is just amazing to see how God reveals things to us in our everyday lives. It sounds like you had a divine epiphany! What a blessing to have two Fathers that love you so much. I am thankful for God's patience and grace because patience is not a strong suit of mine. He is teaching me through my dependence to be more patient and willing to do things in His timing…not my own. I now ask myself to you want in done "your" way or the "right" way? As I seek to be in God's will..I'm taking the right way but I'm still a work in progress. Thanks for such a beautiful and inspiring story today. What a blessing! Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Thank you for stopping Horace. I am glad that you have joined us here! I am right there with you, I am so thankful for God's patience and grace. I don't know how many times it feels like I completely blow it daily. To have Him love me because of who He is and not who I am being is amazing! Have a great week!
Your dad sounds like my husband – beautifully written, Jaime. Thanks for the linkup opportunity!
Thank you Susan for the encouragement and the connection! Have a great week!
Jaime, what a beautiful comparison of your father to our Heavenly Father. I love your illustrations of Him working on us and being patient with us, while we are resisting and being impatient. Your dad sounds like a lovely man! How blessed you are to have him. Have a wonderful week!
Thank you, Alisa. My dad is a lovely man. Very set in His ways, but quite an amazing father. What a blessing to see him parallel my Heavenly Father. I am glad yo are here this week.
I always love your stories, Jaime. You showed me your father and how he works in his meticulous ways and how beautifully it ties in with OUR Father and how He works in us. Thank you. I hope your week is blessed, friend.
Thank you, Gleniece. That is very kind of you. We are so fortunate that God loves us so much that He will take that same time to meticulously craft us the way HE wants us to be. Great to have you as always, friend!
Oh my goodness this is such a sweet and perfect analogy!
Thank you Charlene. It is always a blessing to see Christ in those around us. In those times we can see that He truly wants us to know and understand Him because He has given us someone that we can see Him through them.
What a beautiful story Jaime! I love how God takes our messes and brings beauty out of them!
We often want to get straight out of those messes but God can really straighten our hearts in those messes. We can truly be blessed through life's struggles. SO glad you are here this week, friend! I hope you are doing well.
Great story. I always think that we learn from our messes to do better in our lives.
Thanks, Patrick. I am glad that you stop by every week and engage in the conversations. You are so right, we can learn so much from the messes in our lives. With Christ, we have a hope that He can see us through to the other side of it. Have a great week!
Jaime, Although I love everything you write, this is my very favorite one! Your words conveyed the work of our Father so beautifully. I had goosebumps as I read this. Your father's work over your "art" just made me relate to what our Heavenly Father does in a way I never have before. Love, love, love! I'm sharing this one everywhere for sure!!!
Hugs,
Lori
Lori, You are too sweet. Thank you so much for sharing this. I am always happy to be connecting with you. Although those changes can be hard to handle God wants us to be more like Him. I am glad for so many of the changes He continues to pursue in me. Thanks for sharing with us here in the comments every week!
I am thankful my anchor holds. What a beautiful picture you painted for us here at Tell me a True Story. Your Dad is a blessing and he love you dearly.
I don't remember a single moment in my life wondering if my Father loved me. Even through correcting us, I knew He loved us. I hope I am able to convey that to my children as well. Have a great week Hazel.
Such a great message! I can relate as well because I am a perfectionist as well! Thanks for linking up with #BloggersSpotlight and please come back next week!
Glad to be connecting with you, Carrie. Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. I am glad that this story has connected with you. Have a great week!
Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story. Your dad is a definite blessing to you and to his family.
Thank you for stopping Hazel and hosting Tell Me a Story. I am glad to be connecting with you and yes you are right, my dad is a blessing.
I love the analogy in this post.
visiting from LMM
This is a great lesson! I love when every day happenstances teach us something. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your link at the Family Joy Linky Party! Hope to see you again next week! 🙂 Good luck with your linkup, as well!
What a wonderful father and great example. Thanks for the lovely story!
Thanks for hosting as well!!
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Karren
Beautiful reminder of our heavenly father! Thanks for sharing with the Literacy Musing Mondays Link-up!