Have you ever been the recipient or the discoverer of great treasure?
Recently I lost not only one, but three items I love, two of which were dear to me.
Believe it or not, I lost all three of these necklaces (below) in the span of just a few months. The necklace on the left I love, but I bought it at a garage sale for next to nothing, so no huge sentimental loss there. However, the other two, especially the one on the right, I cherish for their source. The one in the middle came from my dear, lifelong friend who bought it for me in Israel. The last one, the three birds, came from my sister years ago. She said the three birds represent my three sons. As you can guess, I was devastated when I lost that one. I looked the longest and hardest for that treasure. It upset me to know that I had let something so meaningful slip from my grasp through neglect.
This little carriage house (below) sits right on the other side of our property in the back of our house. It is more than a little vintage, and to me, so beautiful in its forlorn, neglected state. It begs for speculation, for imagination. I wonder how it was regarded when it was in use decades ago. No one uses it now; it sits abandoned. What does it hold inside its stone walls? Could there be great treasure hidden among the long discarded items?
If you were to walk through my own house and I were to give you a little narrated tour of what I love and why, where I got this or that, you would discover that my home is filled with found treasure, items that someone deemed discardable, and handmade treasures from loved ones.
Does anyone else love going to garage sales and thrift stores? It feels as close to a treasure hunt as I will ever get, and it can be that thrilling!
Handmade gifts from family members and friends I hold ever so dear. They are thoughtfully created gifts that took time and hard work to finish. They are my most cherished items.
In taking stock of the material things I hold dear, I can’t help but to think of my family and friends who are far greater than any material treasure. They are held the most dear and with the most care.
Indeed, I did find my three necklaces – all three within minutes – after searching for weeks for them!! I came home from having lunch with my friend (the one who gave me the necklace from Israel) and all of a sudden, I knew exactly where to look! It was a miracle, a small miracle, but not insignificant – I felt comfort knowing that God cared about something so small, but meaningful to me. Indeed, found treasure.
As for the little stone building behind our house, we’ll never know what treasure it might hold? It may just be filled with junk. A search for unknown treasure could well lead to disappointment. For that matter, a search for what we can see and believe will bring us fulfillment can also lead to disappointment.
But unlike the necklaces and the mystery of the stone building, there is a Treasure that will not be lost, will not disappear or disappoint.
Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26
One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4
You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Nothing and no one else in all the world can satisfy the longing in our hearts. No one but Jesus can give us everlasting life. There is no love that can even come close to the love of God. In Him we are forgiven, loved, remembered, held, restored, healed. The gifts He gives cannot be numbered. He alone knows what we need and how to love us with a perfect love. Our Great Treasure.
What do we search for today? What do we hold as treasure?
By Your grace, Lord, may we remember to hold You most dear.
Amen.
I would love to hear from you.