The Heavenly Carpenter
by Debra Fryson
As parents, pastors, and teachers, we work diligently to instill a deep
love for Jesus in the hearts of our children and young people. Sometimes
we may question if our family worship, youth activity, or Bible class
discussion made a difference. The following 12-year-old’s reflection may
provide an answer.
“The Heavenly Carpenter." The way God works in our lives is much the same as the way a carpenter makes furniture. Let’s say the carpenter is going to make a chair. He could just nail some boards together and be done, but then the chair would not be attractive! So, he carves and chisels, making beautiful designs on the chair but the chair is still rough and unfinished. He needs to sand it smooth. Then is the carpenter done? No. The chair still needs many coats of finish. After that the chair is attractive and beautiful, ready for use.
And so our heavenly Carpenter does with us. He nails us together, carving and chiseling our lives into a beautiful design. He sands the places where we are rough and unfinished, making us ready for Heaven. Then He coats us with His love, coat after coat, until we are polished and perfected, reflecting His character within us,” — Sarah, grade 6, KidsView, October 2009, Volume 8, Number 10.
When the home, church, and school work together we create an effective partnership that builds a rich and growing faith in our children and youth.* To foster collaboration, each month this column will feature practical information our readers can use to nurture the physical, mental, or spiritual health and well-being of our young people. As partners, we will work together to help the children we love discover the purpose God has for each of their lives, realize their God-given potential, and strive to be like Jesus, living a life of service to others.
*For more information on the accumulative power of the home, church, and school on growth in faith review Valuegenesis findings at www.adventistedge.org.
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