Wednesday, November 14, 2007

A Story About A Blanket

I think the man who invented the George Foreman grill should be given the Nobel peace prize. It allows those of us who have no talent in the kitchen, to pretend that we know what we're doing, throw a couple chicken breasts on the grill and watch the magic happen.
Last night my wife had the evening off, and so I decided I would pretend cook, enlisting the services of my trusty grill. I had decided on making a grilled chicken salad, I know it makes your mouth water just thinking about it, but as I was preparing to put the chicken breasts on the grill, I realized I'd forgotten to buy salad. Since you can't have salad without salad, I ran to the store to pick up a head of lettuce, and some tomatoes, and as I was climbing up the stairs, key in hand ready to enter my apartment, I heard raised voices coming form the other side of the door. In truth, I just heard my wife's voice, which was one octave below a healthy yell.
Before I go on with the story, there's one thing you need to know about my wife. When she gets angry, or frustrated she reverts to speaking something I've dubbed 'Romanglish'. It's basically English, interspersed with Romanian, that's quite funny to hear. She was speaking 'Romanglish', so I knew something had made her angry.
I opened the door, and walked in concerned, only to see my wife almost yelling at the television. She was watching something called Antiques Roadshow, wherein people from all over the country bring in stuff they've had laying around the house, stuff that looks old, or they consider to be valuable, and have it appraised by professionals.
Apparently a man had just told a woman her blanket was worth a cool half million dollars, and my wife couldn't believe it. "I think this man just lost his mind", my wife said throwing me a glance. "How can a blanket be worth five hundred thousand dollars? I have nicer blankets from my grandmother, do you think he'll give me half a million dollars for them?"
I tried to suppress a laugh, and failed horribly, and when my wife asked why I was laughing, I explained to her that if the man, who was an expert in his field believed the blanket was worth that much, there had to be a good reason.
As I sat on the couch next to my wife, we discovered there was a good reason after all, at least from the man's standpoint. The blanket was worth so much because it had been made by Chief Sitting Bull's wife, and given to him as a present. It was one of a kind, unique, in excellent condition, and that's why he had estimated it's value at half a million dollars.
Smiling I turned to my wife and said, "see, if your grandmother had been Chief Sitting Bull's wife, your blankets would be worth that much too."
There is a point to this story, and the point is this:
We are not valuable because of what or who we are in and of ourselves. We are valuable because of who made us. The reason every soul is priceless, is because every soul is a unique masterpiece, envisioned and created by the Master Artist, God himself. These earthen vessels of clay, carry within themselves the breath of God, His signature, and this is why they are valuable. God made the soul, He breathed life into every being, and this is the reason we are more valuable than any blanket, or work of art in His eyes.
The more rare a thing is, the more valuable it becomes. Of some six billion souls, there is none like yours. You are unique, I am unique. This knowledge should fill us with joy, and thankfulness toward our Creator, He took the time and put in the effort to make you, and me, unique masterpieces. Your experiences are unique, your joys, your sadness, your fears, your worries, your ecstasy and your agony, no one lives them in the same manner, or reacts to circumstances in exactly the same way you do.
There will come a day when the world will be no more, time will no longer exist, but your soul will surpass all these barriers, it will go on, for it is eternal.
There is one other thing that gives unimaginable worth to our souls, and that is the price that was paid for them. Something is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. Lest we forget, we were bought with a great price. Jesus shed His blood, a blood more precious and valuable than all the riches of the universe. A heavy price was paid for the treasure you carry within you, and to this day a great battle rages between the light and the darkness, for that very treasure. When all is said and done, it is you who decide to whom you will entrust this treasure, each man and woman exclusively accountable for the decisions they make concerning their souls. Since you only get to choose once, I pray you choose wisely, and if you have already chosen, and entrusted your eternal soul to the heavenly Father, may you continue your journey in all righteousness, in all humility, and in all purity.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you Michael.

Anonymous said...

Great story Michael, oh and just to let you know George Foreman invented the George Foreman grill. LOL He is a professional boxer, and RETIRED , I would say because he definately is before your time. He also has many sons, and he calls them all George,after himself, so I guess he thinks a lot of his name too !!

God Bless you and your dear wife. And be sure to let us know when the next episode of Romangish come us............just joking. LOL

JeepThang said...

This post should help with that "self-esteem" post above.

Anonymous said...

Michael,

I would like to share a story with you that came to my mind as I read your comments about our soul. My husband and I were returning from an evening out and I went to check on the kids. My third daughter Moriah was crying in bed. I went in to see what was the matter and she began to pour out her thoughts. She explained that for so long she's been trying to get enough love. She can't get enough from Dad and she can't get enough from me. This has been a frequent conversation between us and we joke with eachother that she has a hole in her love bucket, so when we (mom and dad) put love in, it just leaks out. We again laughed about this situation as I hugged her and tried to get a little love to stay in her bucket. But then she went on and explained that she realized that only God can give her love that won't leak out and that now she has to start getting love from him. I was of course tickled at this train of thought (pretty impressive for a nine year old)and encouraged her in this truth. There was silence for a time and then a fresh flow of tears started. What's wrong? It's so hard, mom, I can't see him and I can't hear him, and sometimes I worry...that maybe I'm wrong. Maybe its not true...

Maybe you will be made a fool of for hoping in something that isn't really there- I chimed in. -yes-

It was a long time before I was able to choke down the lump in my throat. That is the question isn't it? Can we trust Him. Can we trust the story? And do I really believe it enough to let my sweet little girl hang all her hope of love on it?

Yes...I really do believe it that much.


Thank you for listening to my thoughts. You needn't post this it really was just for your encouragement.

Christine Neumayer
(WY)

James Kinsman said...

With all of the "realist" expectations of Mike, complaining about the state of the church, we see that Mike still retains a sense of humor.

Human, afterall.

Elm Street Chapel said...

Good point Michael,
I've often thought a bought what a precious gift salvation/baptism of the Holy Ghost is. It's actually a deposit of great value within earthen vessels. A portion of God Himself. You can't see it from the outside but after mortality puts on immortality, it's all the difference.

Since we were made in God's image and likeness, after our kind. And God breathed His life into us, our value cannot be determined by any earthly understanding of value.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?
7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
13And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Chief Sitting Bulls blanket, what? We are more precious than gold. Per pound, at today’s price, $795.00 per ounce, $12,720.00 per pound, if you weigh more than 40lbs your worth more than that old blanket. And it doesn't have an "Eternal Life Guarantee".
L,J,P&HG
Dave

Anonymous said...

Dear Christine,

Thank you for sharing about how your daughter is realizing only God can love her enough, yet worrying that maybe she's wrong. The Lord used your words to speak to something in me and encourage me.

I was going to leave it at that, but I want to share how amazing He is. I was asking Him about that very thing today. I had that same struggle when I was that age. Leaky bucket is a perfect description. I used to play this song on the piano over and over and cry and cry thinking no one would ever sing such a beautiful song about me. (Annie's Song by John Denver) I knew nothing about God back then, but He was calling me.

Several months ago I was telling the Lord I couldn't really feel and know and understand His love, and that I was getting tired of just believing it by faith. Before I could even finish, His Presence just enveloped me and He started singing that song to me! It all came back to me, because I had forgotten. I remembered how terrible that feeling had been back then. But I was so blown away that the Lord had kept that in mind all these 30 years, that He had been planning and waiting all this time for the perfect opportunity to reveal His love in that personal way, so that I would KNOW.

Well, TODAY (how quickly we forget) I was asking the Lord, was that really real? Did You really sing that to me? Are You really going to be all that to me? Or am I so pathetic I'm just making it up? When I read your comment, there was no more doubt. Also, I live in Wyoming too!

Shalom,
Amy