When You Feel Like Recycled Goods

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Do you ever go through the routines of life without thinking? Maybe it’s because you had a long day and you’re tired. Or you find your creative juices drained and checking off the next box off the to-do list seems to require more energy than you have.

At the end of a long day last week, I packed up an empty box that contained some cardboard pieces. Piled up in the kitchen, I felt too tired to even take it to the recycling bin. So I left it at the end of the kitchen table, giving myself a little grace to take care of it in the morning.

The next morning, I got up early to work and the box was still there of course. I left it untouched for a while so I could hopefully finish a writing project before the children woke up for the day. I was almost finished when Tarah, my 6 year old, tiptoed down the stairs and sat on my lap to snuggle for a minute. But a minute was all it lasted, she was ready to embrace the day and headed into the kitchen for breakfast.

Suddenly, I heard an “Oh, Mommy!” The cry contained so much joy and happiness that I immediately turned my head to see what she possibly could have found.

She brought a packaging piece of the box to be recycled over to me and exclaimed, “WOW! Look at all these worlds!”

Ya’ll- I didn’t see any worlds. I saw a piece of cardboard packing. But I was truly curious as to what she was seeing at this point. And she didn’t let my hesitation hold her back. I don’t think she even noticed it. She was thrilled and excitedly started pointing at all she saw in this piece of recycling.

“Look, Mommy. Here’s the slide. And here’s the basketball court….” She ran and got her little Dora house and some people. Then she started setting up “all those worlds.”

And the heavenly Father whispered to my heart:

You’ve been a little tough on yourself lately. You often look at yourself like you looked at that cardboard packaging. You think you’re ready for the recycling bin. You sludge through a day without fresh eyes to see all the worlds I have for you. Embrace the abundant life I have for you and the beautiful work I have for you to do.

You are not recycled. You are resurrected.

If you’ve been feeling a little extra weary and the beauty of God’s work in you has been overlooked….

If you might be thinking that you’re not good enough, not smart enough, not creative enough…

If you’re tempted to look at someone else and say, “Now she is God’s masterpiece. Look at all He is doing in her…”

Then I’m whispering to your heart this morning.

You are not recycled. You are resurrected.

Ok, maybe that was louder than a whisper. In fact, for some of you, I just flat out yelled in your ear. Because Jesus Christ raised from the dead and is alive in heaven at the right hand of the Father, you are resurrected! Because God looks down at you and doesn’t have one thought of the recycling bin. No, he looks at your incredible heart and mind and soul and spirit and he says…

Just look at all those worlds.

Rachel