A Box of Crayons

  A new school year is right around the corner. I almost feel giddy about the thoughts of freshly sharpened pencils, bright new folders, the smell of brand new pack of crayons, clean backpacks, shiny new tennis shoes squeaking on the freshly waxed floor, sweating slightly but not caring because you are donning your new Fall clothes, lockers slamming as hesitant little ones are ushered into a new environment by just as apprehensive parents and knowing that a fresh start has come once again. A new school year is always ushered in with so much excitement and apprehension. It always comes with a clean slate (I mean, really clean) and a breath of fresh air.... a sense of rejuvenation, really.
   As I prep for a new classroom full of Kindergarteners that are eager to learn and are hanging on your every word, I cannot help but think of a parallel between my relationship with Christ. Those precious little children are nervous, unsure of what to expect. They are at a new school, with a new schedule, new rules and expectations and new friends to make. And yet, their smiles fill the room and they are eager to see what it is in store for them this year. They quickly place all of their trust in my hands and without reservation hang on my every word.
  This is how Christ is calling me to be with Him. He is calling me to step out of my comfort zone, to allow myself to be stretched and molded by him and to quickly let go of all my reservations and hang on His every word that He speaks directly to me and through His book, the bible. He longs for me to be willing to let go of every other person or thing that I place my contentment in and let him fill the gaping hole in my heart that is only a perfect fit for Him. He longs for me to welcome Him into my life each morning, just as I do each morning as my students trickle into my room, knowing just how important that simple "Good morning" is to make them feel like they belong today. Just as my children look for me to be their guide throughout the day and place all of their trust in me, God longs for me to do the same with Him.
   As I prepare for this new school year, God has laid it on my heart to remind myself each day to be His freshly opend box of crayons. When you first open a box each crayon is perfectly sharpened and shaped. There is no evidence of wear and tear and no evidence of use. But as soon as you touch that perfectly sharpened tip to a piece of bright, white paper the crayon is forever changed. As God guides my path each day I am shaped and molded into the person that He has called me to be. And soon that white piece of paper is filled with a beautiful picture and I must find a new piece to continue on.  God wants to remind me that each new day is a fresh start and a clean slate. He wants to use me in great ways each day and uses me as His vessel to touch the lives of others.
     Crayons by themselves are nothing, they are pretty to look at, but beyond that they have no purpose on thier own. It is not until they are placed into the hand of the creator that they can create a beautiful masterpiece. And each color is used in a different way, for a different purpose to create one unified masterpiece. Without the hand of my Creator I am nothing and it is not until I allow myself to be completely used by Him that a beautiful masterpiece can unfold. God has equipped me with many different gifts and passions, but it is not until I allow myself to be fully used by Him can I glorify Him to the best of my abilities.
   Each and every day I realize how blessed that I truly am and how much I have to be thankful for. Today I am reminded of the blessing of my job and my co-workers. Today I allowed God to speak to me through the eyes of a Kindergartener have found ten thousand reasons to rejoice and praise Him.