Often times, I can’t help but wonder if God is testing us when we find ourselves in circumstances that we normally have an aversion to, but we are forced either physically or spiritually to deal with them.
For instance, when I see homeless people at the corners of shopping malls holding signs asking for food or money, it’s a constant battle in my mind as to who is really in need, and who is scamming the public? Being a single woman, there is always the worry regarding, “is this person even safe to approach?” It’s a shameful way to have to think, however, I watch the news daily, and can’t help but pause and give thought to my next move.
I usually wait for the Lord’s prompting in these situations, and certainly, there have been times my heart was tugged on in such a way I just knew it was God and I had to act.
“A diamond in the rough”. It’s the ability to have a vision of someone’s or something’s potential when the raw product is right before you. Like when my best friend and I bought a house. The paint colors were awful, the yard needed serious work, there were broken and damaged things to fix – yet we bought it because we had a vision of what it would look like once we did repairs.
I’ve seen similar potential in people. I think you have too. You look at someone and you see the “rough” in front of you, but sometimes you can pick out the “soft” inside that mean exterior. You can see renewed health and vigor in someone recovering from illness. You look beyond what is in front of you – and see valued treasure behind it. Diamonds in the rough.
Something like this happened to me last weekend. In the past, I’ve never been a “cat person”. In all honesty, I didn’t like them one bit as a kid. Maybe it’s because I learned as a child that cats want to be pet on their terms, so when they are done with you petting them, rather than walk away, they sometimes, quick as a flash and without warning, swipe at you with those sharp claws to let you know, “Stop touching me!” I always found that to be so rude! So I therefore adopted a “Dogs Rule! Cats Drool” mentality. Harumph!
So I don’t know when my strong dislike for cats dissolved. It probably came from growing older, more mature, and making friends with people who ARE owned by cats. (C’mon, we all know cats are never owned! Hee hee!) More than likely, too, it was simply God growing me up, creating me more into His image.
Last weekend, I was gardening in the front yard with my best friend when a stray cat walked by the house. A little gray and white thing, literally skin and bones, and a white and purple collar around it’s neck. (Why would a cat look so bad if someone belonged to it?) It was just pitiful. And I ignored it. Until it walked by again, this time mewling it's introduction to me. Now it was breaking my heart. I ignored it. Until it walked by a third time.
I'll make a longer story short. After that third pass, I grabbed my keys and hauled off to the grocery store for cat food. I couldn't stand it any more.
Me. A DOG person. I own a dog. I live with TWO dogs. I used to DISLIKE cats. Strongly. And here I was, running to the store as fast as I could to feed this poor, pitiful creature. I think I am now a cat owner. If that isn't GOD at work, I really don't know what is. But it seems to be the theme in my life these days. The house, the yard, a cat. I see the rough in front of me - but I see potential.
So not only do I feel that God has certainly grown me up and matured me, but He has also filled me with a compassion that was not there before.
How much rough does God see through each of us to see the diamond resting on the inside? We all have our past, history, hurts and baggage. But God sees the diamond inside each one of us, just as He divinely created us; and as we devote our lives to Him, he helps us to chisel through the "rough" to become more like HIM. I believe the above scripture applies, because in order to serve others and provide for their needs, we must get beyond our initial judgment of them, which is unfortunately, a natural response for many. And we aren't beyond being healed of old judgments, as has been proven by my taking in "Mr. Bones" as I affectionately call him.
So here I am. A diamond in the rough. And God's not done with me yet. My desire is to continue to chisel through some of my weaknesses and my past in order to fulfill His potential for me.
Prayer request: Pray for those who have "rough edges" they are trying to work through. Past hurts, old grudges, difficult experiences in childhood and adolescence. Pray that God can break through for each of them, so they can fulfill God's desire in their lives.
Prayer: Lord, we ask You to touch each one of our lives, heal us of our pasts, help us to reach forward to all the goodness You have for us, help us to hear Your words, obey Your calling, shed all those things that keep us from You. And thank You, Lord - for choosing us despite our "rough edges". Amen
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