Day Five

Psalm 51:11-12

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous spirit.

I was reading a blog recently talking about restoration. This, along with other's I may post in this entry, was a scripture she referenced. I think about the word "restore". It makes me think of different items that mean something from our family history. My husband and I were watching a show last night called American Restoration. He's into all those kinds of shows, and likes seeing what people have, and how they look restored, and the worth of those things. This man turned in an old mask from the Vietnam war from his grandfather, who, was apparently still alive. He wanted this mask to be restored to as close to original as possible. After many hours of labor, and a lot of heartfelt effort, the mask was made to look brand new. The paint, the icons, the mask, the shields for your eyes, the pads inside....all of it. The man who restores things told the guy whose mask it was (very general, yes I know. Hey, it's my husband's show, I watch for support) that the time it took to restore the mask cost $900. I was like wow...that must really mean a lot to this man to pay that much money for a mask. He wasn't done. He then stated that all the parts he had to get to make the mask back to it's original state were original to that time and that mask, and that was another $900. The total restoration project cost $1800. I was like "WHAT!?" People throw that much money around to restore something so insignificant (to me, mind you). The man to whom the mask belongs sucked in his breath, let it out slowly, and said...."can you put a price on something so important? My grandfather will be so elated" (or something to that extent).

It made me think.

Would any price be to high to restore a broken relationship we may have? Whether it be a broken relationship with a family member, a close friend, our savior? Would we pay any amount of money to have a relationship restored that had been severed by whatever hurts or distance or mistreatment that may have occurred?

Yes, things and people are different. I know this. Things can't be taken to heaven with us, people can. It's a metaphor. I personally wouldn't pay $1800 for a mask from the Vietnam era to be restored for my grandfather. Memories last far longer, AND are free. To that, I put a price limit. BUT, if it was for a relationship to be restored with my grandfather, a meaningful thing that would open the door for a close relationship to be developed, or restored....would I pay that much money then? I had to think about it. I am still thinking about it.

You see, 11 years and 5 months ago my father left my mother, and our family, for another woman. I was very hurt. I couldn't believe someone could throw 24 years of marriage, of a family, out the door. I tried to have relationship with him. I would call him, our conversations would be short and to the point. He never called me. He never sent Christmas or birthday presents to me. I was hurt. He sent them to my siblings. I was always vocal about my faith though. I let him know what he was doing was wrong, and was not the right way to go about his hurts from his marriage. He didn't talk to me. Fast forward 4 years. I met my future husband. I wanted my father to meet him. We went to dinner, my father and his girlfriend, my future husband and me. We did this a few times. I have nothing against her as a person. She doesn't know Christ, or what the bible says about adultery...and if she does, she doesn't follow or believe it. I didn't mind seeing her, having her around. I was fine with all of it. Fast forward 9 months. I was engaged! I called my father to let him know. I wanted him there. I did draw the line however, and let him know that his girlfriend wasn't invited. He was, AND IS still married to my mother. He chose to not come to my wedding. He chose to never talk to me again. Fast forward almost 2 years later, I call him to tell him I had a daughter (I have written him many cards and letters in between). He said congrats, never heard from him again. Fast forward 1 year later, a card for Father's day sent to him announcing our triplets. Still nothing. Send a letter about their births and deaths. He sends 4 Christmas ornaments. One for my oldest daughter, and 3 each for the triplets, their names, birth dates, times of birth, weight, length, and a quote about how they are celebrating Christmas with Jesus this year.

I know! RIght? I was taken aback. This man, who hasn't acknowledged me...STILL hasn't met my eldest though he's been invited multiple times (including her birthday) in over 4 years, has insulted my faith and me...has sent beautiful ornaments with exactly what I wanted on them for Christmas.

Call him right? Thank him....write him a letter of thanks perhaps? I'm not sure what I want to do, how much I will be able to put into this restoration. I know this is an open door for restoration at the least.

Joel 2:25

So I will restore to you the years

That the swarming locust has eaten,

The crawling locust,

The consuming locust,

And the chewing locust,

My great army which I sent among you.