When I was a kid, I had a terrible habit of volunteering myself and my family members for anything that was needed at church. My mom tells a story about how I volunteered to play my harmonica at church one Sunday morning during Sunday School. I had no formal training, but I loved to breathe in and out over and over as I headed from side to side on my discount-store harmonica. After I “played” the harmonica, the church’s organist leaned over to my mom and said, “Oh, how cute, she forgot the notes.” My mom laughed and assured her that I knew no notes! I just loved to sign up for everything. I signed my dad and I up to sing at the Father / Daughter dinner. We sang It’s a Miracle. I still sing the lyrics from time to time, it was quite a catchy little song.
One of my favorite songs as a kid, was the song- “He’s Still Working on Me.” I somehow convinced my mom to sing this with me for a Mother / Daughter event. If you have never heard this old song, I highly recommend it. It has a child-like vibe, but there is actually much depth to the words. Once, when Joel and I were serving as children’s pastors, I volunteered my three children to sing this same song with me at a Harvest Festival church service. My kids sang with me because I didn’t give them a choice, but I am certain they did not enjoy it as much as I did. This “kiddie” song has stayed with me for now over 37 years and I can still sing every word. Isn’t it funny how some things just stick with you?
“In the mirror of His word, reflections that I see, makes me wonder why He never gave up on me! But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray. Remember He’s the Potter, I’m the clay. He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, cause He’s still workin’ on me.”
Here I am, headed steadily toward my 50’s (ok- so I have a few more years, but it’s the next big one), and God is still working on me. He hasn’t given up on me; though I have given Him reason to time and again. The biggest challenge, for me, is to remember that He is in charge. He is the potter. I am supposed to be the clay. I am supposed to be flexible and yield to His molding and stretching. I am supposed to allow HIM to use me. I will continue to sing this childhood favorite of mine, as it is such a good reminder that God continues to work in and through us. But we do have to submit to Him and allow Him to mold us and make us what He would have us to be.
I really am so thankful that He is still working on me!
Party of 8 