The Carpenter's Tools
Brother Hammer served as the chairman. The other members of the tool belt informed him that he must leave, because he was too noisy. But brother Hammer said, "If I have to leave this carpenter's shop, then brother Gimlet must go too. He's insignificant and makes a very small impression." (A gimlet is a small tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and a cross handle for boring holes).
Little brother Gimlet arose and said, "All right, but brother Screwdriver must go also. You have to turn him around and around to get anywhere with him."
Brother Screwdriver turned to the other tools in the belt and said, "If you wish, I will go, but brother Plane must leave too. All of his work is on the surface; there's no depth to what he does."
To this brother Plane leveled his terse reply, "Well, then, brother Saw will have to depart too. The changes he proposes always cut too deep."
Brother Saw complained, saying, "Brother Ruler will have to withdraw if I leave, for he's always measuring other folks as though he were the only one who is right."
Brother Ruler then surveyed the group and said, "Brother Sandpaper doesn't belong here either. He's rougher than he ought to be, and is always rubbing people the wrong way."
In the midst of the discussion, the Carpenter of Nazareth walked in. He had come to perform his day's work. He put on His tool belt and went to the workbench to make a pulpit. He employed the ruler, the saw, the plane, the hammer, the gimlet, the screwdriver, the sandpaper, and all the other tools. When the day's work was over, the pulpit was finished, and the carpenter went home. All the accusations against each of these tools were absolutely true, yet the carpenter used every one of them. No matter which tool He used, no other tool could have done the work better.
Little brother Gimlet arose and said, "All right, but brother Screwdriver must go also. You have to turn him around and around to get anywhere with him."
Brother Screwdriver turned to the other tools in the belt and said, "If you wish, I will go, but brother Plane must leave too. All of his work is on the surface; there's no depth to what he does."
To this brother Plane leveled his terse reply, "Well, then, brother Saw will have to depart too. The changes he proposes always cut too deep."
Brother Saw complained, saying, "Brother Ruler will have to withdraw if I leave, for he's always measuring other folks as though he were the only one who is right."
Brother Ruler then surveyed the group and said, "Brother Sandpaper doesn't belong here either. He's rougher than he ought to be, and is always rubbing people the wrong way."
In the midst of the discussion, the Carpenter of Nazareth walked in. He had come to perform his day's work. He put on His tool belt and went to the workbench to make a pulpit. He employed the ruler, the saw, the plane, the hammer, the gimlet, the screwdriver, the sandpaper, and all the other tools. When the day's work was over, the pulpit was finished, and the carpenter went home. All the accusations against each of these tools were absolutely true, yet the carpenter used every one of them. No matter which tool He used, no other tool could have done the work better.
~Author Unknown~
Love this. You always post the best stories/parables/thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI've finally started to forgive my husband (ie - today!) and as I do, I'm coming to see more clearly how this addiction does not define EVERYTHING about him and that there are so many good parts to him. Just like my weaknesses and sins don't mean that I don't have purpose and goodness too.
Thanks for sharing!
That is awesome. I'm glad! Remember it's OK to forgive one moment and then retract it the next. That's normal. Not forgiving someone is the same as not trusting God... and I know that God forgives us and understand when we take our trust back from Him. When we have those lapses. The good news is we then have the opportunity to practice forgiving again:-)
DeleteMuch love!
Thanks Sidreis you are answer to prayers tonight. I think I spent an hour on my knees pleading for understanding, courage, strength, peace, and self worth. I felt all alone and cried until my eyes hurt and my nose got stuffy. I needed a good cry...maybe it's attached to hormones I don't know, but I do know this...I was't alone at all and somehow I knew everything was going to be okay. No glorious answer or defining moment...just peace.
ReplyDeleteWhen I came upstairs, I heard my husband snoring loudly and saw the message light flashing on my phone. My husband had sent me a text that said, " I Luv U"...I then checked my blog and saw you had posted. As I read this post I felt part of my prayer answered. Thank you!
Awwww that is so awesome!!:-) Warm fuzzies felt. Cries are definitely therapeutic as long as it doesn't turn to whining. Let the tears flow! Love a girl.
DeleteSee this is the kind of thing I want to write! The kind of thing that REALLY hits you when you need it most.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you there! I love analogies and I can write them well, but full on stories like this... ya, I don't have that talent.
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ReplyDelete