Treasured Possession

I’ve loved rocks for as long as I can remember. Did the sparkle of mica wedged in the crevices of a stone catch my eye? Did a fragment of clear quartz ignite my affair? I couldn’t tell you. All I know is I. Love. Rocks.

Regardless of the origin, its been 40 years and my affinity for rocks remains strong as ever. A case in point would be the trip I took this past weekend to the lovely Black Hills of South Dakota.

I was attending a women’s retreat sponsored by our church district. The place? Cedar Canyon. It’s exquisite. It’s peaceful. And yes——–it has rocks.

Early morning a handful of lovelies and I went on a praise walk. A map marked out stopping points. Beautiful vistas coupled with recommended scripture reading were waiting for us.

At first it felt rushed. I mentally checked off the first stop. {Isn’t it funny how you can leave home for a break only to find that the hardest (and often most important) things to leave behind are your worries and sense of obligation?}

It wasn’t until stop number three that I subconsciously left my to-do’s back home where they belonged.

Of course, I have a rock to thank for it.

My eyes wandered from the gift of a clear blue sky to tracings of light that pierced through evergreens and shafts of tall dry grass. There it was. A hint of something more. Shades of color protruding from the earth. Amber tones framed with putty-black.

My thought bubble whispered,

I think I’ve found a treasure.

God had anticipated the moment. He knew I’d need a tool to excavate. Six inches from my unearthed friend was the perfect stick. It was hardy enough to leverage and it had the added bonus of an angled tip that was perfect for digging.

I began to scrape and prod. It was only a matter of minutes until earth opened her palms and handed me her gift.

By this time the pressures back home had little pull. The five-gazillion needs to be met by only me (or so I thought) had long dissipated. It was me and the rock. Truth be told…

It was me and God.

The sun was warm on my neck. So warm it snuck its way past the cold air that was biting the insides of my nostrils. The heat penetrated its way through my body and reached my heart. I. Felt. Warm.

Perhaps it’s not the sun?

I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. In fact, I’m certain it was the Son. Earth gave me stone but in that moment Jesus gave me heart. He gave me an unrushed moment that granted me an opportunity to push pause—- to be still—-to remember. And do you know what I remembered?

I am loved.

I recalled how much God loves me. His inaudible but undeniable whispers softened my tired, hard heart. Holy Spirit breath carried words to my soul.

My putty-colored rock turned my heart to putty as God kneaded the needed reminder that He loved me. He loved me so much so He sent His son to die for me.

I know this. I’ve known it for a long time. But the din of dirty dishes and cry of out-of-control schedules makes me forget. Truth took hold as I pondered how much my silly rock, my unearthed treasure, paled in comparison to the treasure I am to Him.

Do YOU know that? Do YOU believe that?

It’s true friend.

You are God’s treasured possession.

May these words warm your heart like the Son did mine that day.

“The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Deut. 7:6 ESV (Emphasis mine.)

“God, your God, chose you out of all the people on Earth for himself as a cherished, personal treasure.” Deut. 7:6 MSG (Emphasis mine.)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 NIV

Your (grateful to be treasured) DoAhead Friend,