Found. Restored. Preserved. - Honoring the Stories our Heirlooms Carry

As I spend time in the workshop working with old and forgotten pieces, I am often reminded of how gently and faithfully God works in our lives. He does not wait for us to find Him. He seeks us out first. He comes to us in our brokenness, our confusion, and even in our wandering. Just as a shepherd searches for a lost sheep, God looks for the hearts that belong to Him. We are not forgotten. We are not overlooked. He finds us.

Once He finds us, He does not leave us as we are. He restores us. Restoration is not about forcing us into something unnatural. It is about returning us to the purpose we were created for. In following Christ, I want my life to become more aligned with His will, His love, and His way of living. My greatest desire in this earthly life is to be more Christ-like. His patience, gentleness, truth, and compassion are the model for everything. The way Christ shepherds us is the perfect process. He guides. He teaches. He calls us back when we stray. He shapes our hearts day by day.

And then, God preserves us. Not only in memory or in story, but eternally. Scripture reminds us of the Book of Life. To be preserved in Him is to be held securely, not by our strength, but by His grace. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is lost. What He redeems, He keeps.

This pattern is everywhere in creation and in craftsmanship. Found. Restored. Preserved. God finds us in His love. He restores us to His purpose. He preserves us in His promise. My hope and prayer is that my life will reflect that same process. That the way I care for the pieces entrusted to me will always point back to the way God so faithfully cares for us.

May we look for Him in the quiet moments. May we answer when He calls. And may our lives continue to grow in the likeness of Christ, our Shepherd, our Redeemer, and our Hope.