Lessons from Gnomie
I sat, stitching together the remnants of a dollar store Christmas gnome; its flimsy, red felt had been stretched to the breaking point. The plastic beads inside that had once given it an irresistible weighted squishiness were spilling out of its backside and leaving a trail of impending mom-annoyance in its wake.
Gnomie. This little red character was intended merely for shelf-sitting during the holiday season and then packed away to endure the spring, summer, and fall months in the safety of a plastic tote in the pole barn, only to reemerge once again at the jingling of Christmas bells. This particular little gnome, however, never found the shelter of the plastic tote. Instead, it had been carted around the house, shoved in a sleep-over bag, tossed to and fro between siblings, smothered under bedtime pillows, and ultimately snuggled into the remnants of felt that now hung from its withered, little body. My son tenderly handed Gnomie to me, pleading with his big, brown eyes, “Mommy, can you fix him?”
As I began stitching the little red man, using a contrasting black thread because it was all I could muster out of my thread-bare (yes, pun intended) sewing kit, I shook my head, wondering how long the threads would hold Gnomie together before the cheap, red felt finally gave way.
“Why am I doing this?” I wondered. “Why am I trying to fix this gnome? I am wasting my time. I should just throw this one out and get a new one! They are a dime-a-dozen. This is ridiculous!” The complaints in my mind were about to spill out of my mouth.
And then it hit me. I am doing this out of love for my son - my son who desperately pleaded for this gnome, not a new gnome. This gnome was his gnome. And, though it was tattered and broken and much more easily replaced than repaired, he wanted Gnomie. Gnomie was his.
As I continued to stitch, God connected the dots for me and whispered to my heart. “Many of my children have been broken. They are tattered and torn. They have been used in ways I never intended. The fabric of their being is tearing because of failed expectations, because of loss, of unmet hopes and dreams. Because of hurtful words and actions done to them by others. They are overcome by shame, embarrassment, hopelessness by mistakes they have made. They feel as if they have no value; that they have no purpose. They believe they should just be thrown out and replaced. And, because they believe these lies, their heart is spilling out all over the floor, often to the annoyance of others.”
As these truths flooded my thoughts, I recalled why Gnomie had caught my attention in the store. This little gnome had sparked a clever phrase I typed up and fastened to Gnomie’s tummy before handing it over to my children.
“Jesus loves you gnome matter what!”
I had meant for it to be a cute reminder that Christmas is really about Jesus’ love for us. But this “cute little reminder” to my children was now reminding me of a profound truth God has given to His children…
He has said, “You are mine. I love you despite your wounds, your mistakes, your rips and tears. I want you just as you are. I will not throw you out, but instead I will repair you and heal you. Nothing can separate my love from you.”
Christmas is about God coming to be with us in a broken world. He allowed Himself to be tattered and torn in our place, spilling His heart out for us on the cross. He knew it was the only way to heal our wounds and fix what had been ruined by sin. He gave the ultimate sacrifice to show us that we are not throw-aways. We are His.
The next time you see a gnome on the shelf, consider these take-aways from my moments of sewing up Gnomie:
1. Recognize the child-sized crisis: Our children’s concerns may seem trivial to us, but they are often a crisis in their little minds. Don’t disregard the things that are important to them because they are not important to you. Aren’t you glad God sees your worries and doesn’t blow them off? Let these moments be an opportunity for you to show God’s love and grace to your children. Get down at their level and ‘see’ them as God sees them.
2. Humble yourself and pray: When you are doing tasks for your family that seem tedious or time-sucking (think laundry, changing sheets, cleaning, sewing up stuffies…) remember that serving them in these little ways is an imitation of Christ in His humility and love. No one was too insignificant for Him to serve. Pray for your children, your spouse, your coworkers, etc. as you work and turn the menial tasks into acts of worship. And, pray also that God would help you to see the deeper spiritual truths that He imbeds in everyday responsibilities.
3. Finally, learn from Gnomie: If you are feeling tattered, torn, broken, shameful, unworthy…remember what Christmas is truly about. Jesus left His throne in heaven to come to earth for you. He chose to restore you, not replace you. As His child, nothing can ever separate you from Him.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:35, 37-38
Jesus loves His children ‘gnome’ matter what!
In the fire with you,
Toni