Up on the Mantelpiece

Many of our family treasures are proudly displayed on the mantelpiece over our fireplace.  While some things come and go, others stay put.  The brass clock stays steady, faithfully ticking away over the years.  A solid Inuit carving, smooth and carefully crafted, serves as a place where those transient cards come to be propped up during times of celebration.  Shells and special pieces of driftwood come and go and give variety and beauty.

Though not specifically displayed on the mantel, each of our children are treasures to be appreciated and placed firmly in the heart of our family.  Painfully, I am aware that sometimes our children in this life may not be a constant in our lives.  Sometimes the tragedy of death takes them from us.  No less devastating, sometimes children decide to leave in anger, or mistakes made cause distances that never seem to be able to be bridged.  As I wrote yesterday about our children feeling increasingly secure as the waves of love are washed over them, I was aware that none of us have guarantees of that ongoing sense of belonging and love.  Sometimes those beautiful pieces of driftwood washed up high on the beach that we hope will stay forever do get washed away in the storms to continue their life journey on other shores.  Even chunks of rock on those sandstone beaches get broken off.

I have a mantelpiece in my heart that I cherish and admire whenever I want.   All my children and loved ones have a special place on that mantel.  No earthly or heavenly reality can remove them from that most special place in my heart.   No disappointments, failures or harsh words can touch this sanctuary.  I try not to bring my own guilt or pain there and instead come to my inner mantelpiece with deep love and prayer.

I can let go of guilt in my own sanctuary when I remember that I am firmly placed forever on God's mantel.  I believe we are all there, displayed with joy and care in God's heart, even when we ourselves do not know or even want His recognition.  Nothing can remove us from that place in His heart.  It is His place to hold and treasure the great wonder and love of each unique person of His creation.

Sometimes in life those special treasures we that thought were safe in our keeping are ripped away from us in any number of ways.  We all have people who we are deeply missing.

I am thankful for that central place in my own heart where I can honour and hold my special ones forever.  I have lasting security in the knowledge and experience that God has me and all these others on His mantel too, far from any harm and eternally treasured and held no matter what.