Under the Wrapping


It should have been easy.  I had a small package to mail to my daughter but I was missing the right kind of paper to wrap around my makeshift box so that it could actually make the trip. 

I hunted.  I searched.  I cleaned out closets.  I tried cutting a brown shopping bag down to size but it came out too small.  I was getting frustrated.  Such a simple thing- mailing a package.  Such a frustrating roadblock - not having the proper supplies.

I remembered I had some hot pink wrapping paper stashed away.  She loves that color, I said to myself, and got out the roll.  Wow, I thought.  This will catch some attention in the mail room.

The first wrap around the package looked gorgeous, but the paper was so thin I knew it wouldn't hold up.  Thinking maybe a double layer would do the trick, I grabbed the edge to get a larger piece. As I unrolled it, out came the stiff center paper that was the core, the innards, the hot pink's support system.

It was sturdy.  It was thick.  It was brown.

It was exactly what I needed.

I realized the irony of the situation.  Who knew that underneath the bright color that caught my eye was the material I was seeking - what I'd been searching for all along.  I had to get to the end to find it, but when I did, I knew it was the answer.

How often do I wrap my life in the pretty stuff, trying to hold it all together, when actually what I am depending on is too thin to adequately enable my package to make its entire journey ?  If only I'd strip away all the surfac-y material that just looks nice but actually serves no purpose, I would get to my heart, my core, the me God created, and realize that He was there all along and has always been supporting me.

And that's how I want my life wrapped.

11 comments:

  1. First of all, I feel like I havent' been here in FOREVER! Sorrry about that. Anyway, great post, Beth. I love how you create insightful stories with great lessons from the simplest, every day situations.

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  2. Thanks, Paul! I appreciate that! Glad to see you here - thanks for stopping by.

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  3. Thanks Tim! I'm glad you stopped by!

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  4. Love it. so VISUAL... really gets the point across. And you know what, that pretty pink paper wouldn't be so pretty if it didn't have the solid firm base.

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  5. Doris- Amen! You hit the nail exactly on the head. Thanks for your comment!

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  6. Love the new look on your blog!! A great lesson!

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  7. Wonderful. Perfectly said. Thank you.

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  8. Thank you so much ladies- I really appreciate the kind words!

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  9. Oh my goodness, I LOVE this post! LOVE your imagery, and so well said. Beautiful blog - looking forward to following. Be Blessed :)
    Debbie

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  10. Hi Beth. Just wanted to stop by and thank you for your precious comment on my post over at His Voice Alone. I think I posted it a little prematurely (do you ever do that?), as I see things I should have "prettied up" a bit. But, oh well. I'm so sorry to hear of your family's struggles these past months - but pray victoriously, my friend! All day yesterday, I kept repeating over and over again "I'm gonna praise you. I'm gonna praise you, etc." I love what happens when we keep words of praise on our lips. He is our amazing God and He IS at work! Hallelujah!
    (OK, stepping down from soap box...)

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