I love button boxes! They remind me of my mother and grandmother. Both kept a reserve of spare buttons in a “button box.” The variety found in the stockpile was always intriguing. Where did all those buttons come from? How did the button box stay full when we were always taking buttons from it? Why are some smooth and some textured? Oh, how inquiring minds want to know the details!
Our button boxes contained buttons of all sizes, colors, textures, and types. The buttons sat in waiting. Some day to be called upon to adorn shirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, slacks – not to mention an occasional craft project. Each button was designed for a specific purpose. Some were simply ornamental, a beautiful accent, or addition to clothing. Most were practical: they held a shirt cuff in place or replaced a forever lost button on the school playground after a rough game of tag or football. Each was specifically crafted, carefully designed, useful, and necessary.
Humanity is like that. People come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Our personalities are like the many textures of the buttons in the button box. We were deliberately crafted for a purpose, created and designed by God’s exact specifications. Some of us are plain and practical, while others are a bit flashy and ornate. Scripture states that God created us, He created us for His glory, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Isaiah 43:7 “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Psalm 139:14 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Buttons. Such a little thing. Have you ever lost a button? First, there is the search for the lost button. If you don’t find it, you search for a safety pin to temporarily replace it. Suddenly, that little, insignificant button becomes crucial. God’s Word teaches us that each person has a purpose, each one important:
1 Corinthians 12:18-22 “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.”
The buttons in Momma’s button box had a history. Some were leftovers from sewing projects. Others may have been “extras” clothing manufacturers provided with a new blouse or jacket. Most of the buttons were removed from worn-out clothing destined to be repurposed as cleaning cloths. The funny thing is that Momma could pretty much tell you the history of each button. As a child, I thought that amazing. All those buttons! She knew which one once adorned a church dress, a suit coat, or a child’s shirt. As I peruse my button box, I find that I know my buttons, too. I know them because of my history with them. I know them because they are mine.
Praise God; we are never “extra” or “leftover.” Instead, we are His treasured and cherished creation. We are His. We have a history with Him, a relationship. He knows us, and we know Him.
John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,”
Moreover, He loves us! It does not matter how we are shaped, colored, or textured.
1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Culture tries to convince us that we should be like others. God, however, calls us to be different – like Christ!
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Whatever your shape, size, color, or texture, I pray that you know that God loves you, Jesus died for you, and you are a cherished and treasured creation of God. The enemy will try to tell you that you have no worth, no value. He whispers that you are insignificant. The enemy is wrong! Your creator says you are valuable, you are beloved, and He knows you! He sacrificed His best, His perfect son Jesus Christ, to have a relationship with you.
I pray that you know Jesus as your Savior and Lord and that you have a personal relationship with Him. If you don’t, seek Him today. If we can assist you on the journey, contact us at www.leanintojesus.com.
God bless you today and always,
Charlene Miller
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#charlenemillerblogs
