Finding Treasure in Tragedy

A few months ago, I began searching for something special for Madeline’s Gotcha Day. Since she is so very interested in all things pertaining to Azerbaijan, that is what I focused on. It has always proved difficult finding things from the land of her birth. I happened upon a lovely old teapot and set of tea glasses from the market in Baku. It was from the very market street I delighted in strolling up and down during our stay there nearly 9 years ago.

I purchased the item, thrilled at the thought of seeing her delight over her own authentic tea ware. The shipment took a little longer than anticipated, but finally arrived. I picked up the rather smallish box and preceded to open it in secret. When I saw the box’s contents, my heart fell. The beautiful old teapot was broken beyond repair. Only two of the six chai glasses survived shipping. I was crushed and disappointed. I set the box to the side, not yet ready to throw it out. I had plans for that teapot, and now it was ruined.

Days went by and the box remained. I just couldn’t bring myself to throw it away. I am a trash-to-treasure kind of girl. I kept thinking that the tea pot could be redeemed. I got busy dreaming up a project. Broken china screams mosaics, right? I had no experience with mosaics, but how hard could it be, amen? I decided to make a tray for serving our tea. I began breaking the china up into smaller pieces, and designing a bit of a pattern onto an old wooden tray that I had tucked away. It took many hours/days to complete, but finally it was done.I surprised her with it this morning. She loved it! It is now a treasure.

I am especially grateful for the lesson learned in all of this. I love that all those broken pieces, once thought to be worthless, could be refashioned into something with purpose, gift-worthy even. I explained to Madeline, who had been as broken-hearted as I, that what had once appeared to be damaged goods, was now creatively repurposed into a one-of-a-kind tea tray that we will enjoy for years to come.

I can’t help but think about adoption. Like it or not, every adoption has a sad, heart-breaking side. There are children in need all over this world. For countless reasons, the original plan or path for those children has been crushed beyond repair. These tiny creations of the Father end up in orphanages, foster systems, or living on streets in dire situations. Sadly we are, for the most part, untouched by this reality. Many hardly allow themselves to think of the plight of these little ones. Maybe they fail to understand that apart from Christ, they are in the same peril. Our sin has left us broken and without hope. But God loved us enough to send His Son to redeem us. He has adopted us into His family. We live as children of the King, thanks to His mercy & grace & love.

"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." 2 Samuel 22:20

These children may be broken and even damaged, but they are still God’s creations. Every life matters. Every life has worth. God loves them and has a plan and purpose for each one. He is calling His church to rise up and be His hands and feet for these kids. Maybe He is calling us to adopt or volunteer or give, but He is calling. Scripture tells us that …”True religion and undefiled before God and man is to visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions, and to keep yourselves unspotted from the world.”