Redeemed

They had just moved in, shelves still bare. But it was time to downsize further. Stuffed animals were the first to go. 

A celebration was called and invitations sent out for a final farewell. Everyone was summoned.

Upon receiving the news, stuffed animals arrived from every location.

All colors of the rainbow were accounted for. It was a beautiful gathering, for these animals had been down a very long road together. They had been there for two little girls to enjoy and love.

Purchased, given, won - each was special in its own way.

Some were stained, some torn, some worn, some slightly rejected. 

Once assembled, a tea party was the order of the day.

After the party, everyone gathered and said their final goodbyes. The parting was sweet sorrow.

Tears. "They are mine. We'll never see them again."

A few months later, while in the process of donating more items to a local donation store, those two little girls had a brilliant plan:

"Mom, we want to walk into the store and see what they have for sale."

"No," said Mom, heartbroken by their pleas and her own love for what was lost. "I know you will go find those stuffed animals and buy them back. You will save them. You will take back what is yours."

"Aw, Mom!" exclaimed disappointed faces.

 

Similarly, God did what it took to buy us back, to redeem us. He sent His Son to the cross to make a way for us.

We are that special to Him.

No matter what we have done, where we have been, the huge mess we think we have made -

some stained, some torn, some worn, some slightly rejected -

God will take back what the enemy tried to take from Him.

 

We never have to say good-bye. We never have to experience the sorrow of perishing, being eternally separated from Him.

 

He loves us that much.

 

We are His joy. We are His.

With a life given to Christ, the shelves never need be bare.

For when we pass through the threadbare waters of abandonment, fear, rejection, loss, and the like, He is there. 

In spite of the temptation to deem ourselves unworthy in our hearts and in our heads, we have been redeemed.

 

We have been purchased, given eternal life ... we have won! And our future celebration won't be for parting, but for eternal.

Together forever.

 



"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior ...."

- Isaiah 43:1-3



** The girls still have a closet full of stuffed animals.