Pieces of Blessings

What a week this has been.

When we got home from our 2nd hospital stay in one week...first Gene in Omaha having back surgery, then our grandbaby Amiyah's birth...our church family stepped in and provided meals for our family. Tacos, meat loaf, chicken alfredo, chocolate cake, fruit, sausage balls...it was such a blessing to me as it gave me time to love on my new little granddaughter instead of spending time in the kitchen.

Well, last Sunday after the church service, I pulled the car to the front of the church so I could take in the box of dishes I needed to return to everyone. I lifted the box full of casserole dishes out of the trunk and there I was. Standing in the house of God's parking lot about to cuss up a storm, but thankfully, I was too shocked too speak. The side and bottom of the box had come apart and the dishes had fallen onto the rock drive.

Shattered pieces lay at my feet as I stood in unbelief. I was so thankful pre-Jesus Lelia didn't show up and say any 4 letter words as I cleaned up my mess, because a lovely elderly couple were quickly by my side helping me.

Almost in tears, I made my way into the church trying to hold together the box. Gene smiled at me, but could tell something was wrong. I sat the box down on a table and let him see for himself. "What happened?" he asked. I just looked at him and felt like saying, "Oh, I don't know honey I decided to show my gratitude by smashing every one's dishes."

But instead I said, "The box broke."

I wanted to go wait in the car and leave Gene alone to face the owners of the broken dishes, but I stood by my man. That's when our close friend, David, made his way over to us. Seeing what happened he began to hold up broken pieces asking, "Church, does anyone recognize this?" I did end up crying, but it was because I was laughing so hard when David called over the man who brought us tacos. David had covered the box with a towel and held up the corner of it asking if Jim could identify any of the dishes. Turned out that both of the broken dishes belonged to Jim and his wife.

Oh my.

David went on to say that in the future the church would advise providing meals in Tupperware containers when blessing the Chealey's.

Isn't it cool though that with Jesus He wants us just the way we are. Some of us have some really shattered pasts. A history that you carry around in a box because you think that God would never want anything to do with the likes of you. Because of your past you mark yourself as unusable and unworthy.

When Jim saw the broken pieces in the box and realized that they were both of his dishes, after much laughter, he threw them in the garbage. He didn't want them. He didn't take them home and fix them or use them the way they were.

But dear friends, that is not how God works. He takes our box of brokenness and when we allow Him to, He begins to use our PAST in our PRESENT. He takes our shattered past and makes into something usable to enhance His Kingdom. Fortunate for us, God doesn't see our past the same way we do and that is why He is able to use if for His glory.

We see shame, He sees redemption.

We see pain, He sees healing.

We see sorrow, He sees joy.

We see a mess, He sees a vessel.

We see regret, He sees promise.

Whatever shattered pieces are in your box, don't throw yourself away.

Instead, go to the King and let Him put you back together piece by piece.

Let Him use you just the way you are.

Life is amazing when your past is glorifying your Savior instead of haunting you.

Okay, now for the contest!

We loved reading all of the responses!

So, I asked the kids...

Alivia loved Lolly and Pop which was submitted by my uncle Chris and aunt Brenda in Birmingham & cousin Rhiannon. But she quickly found herself torn between "Lolly" and "Yo-Mama" submitted by Sita from Canada. Not sure if I trust her decision making skills at this point. Kind of hard to imagine being in public and Amiyah saying "Yo-Mama, can I have some candy?"

Aaron just looked at me as to say, "You want me to pick a name out for you to be called by someone who can't even talk for 2 years and I can't even figure out which girl I like this week?" Instead, he just shrugged his I'm too cool to cast a vote teenage shoulders and off to Alyssa I went.

Alyssa loved Ya Ya from Liz the best, but thought Lolly was cute too. Then she flipped on me and while laughing she said, "She's callin' you Grandma so get used to it!"

So off to Gene I went...

He loved MeMa from Rebecca and also could see us being called Lolly & Pop.

I personally loved Emily's suggestion of HOT GRANNY!

I am so humbled by all of the sweet compliments thrown my way and I have put all of them on 3x5 cards to make memorizing them easier for Gene!

You all are too sweet~thank you!

And no worries sweet Joy, I am completely cherishing being Amiyah's Grandma. I just don't want her to call me that, but rest assured if she does, I'll be the puddle on the floor because I've melted from the sound of her sweet voice.

OKAY...ready for the winner?

Congratulations Sandra!

When I wake Amiyah up this morning the first words she'll hear will be...

"Good morning Precious, your NONNIE loves you!"

What is really cool is so many of you talked of names that you called a favorite woman in your life...your Grandma. Growing up I remember my Dad always talking so fondly of his Grandma which he called Nonnie. She died when I was a kid, so I personally don't have any memories of her. He really loved her and she was a writer, which is a love of mine, so being called Nonnie will be an honor.

Sandra~e-mail me your address. I've got your book ready to go!

Thank you so much for your help. This was really tough, but lots of fun. And Uncle Chris & Aunt Brenda, tell Rhiannon that we loved Lolly & Pop and I have a feeling that Miss Alivia will be calling me Lolly since that was her first vote.

~Many Blessings~

Nonnie