The Trade




My best friend’s husband died, but she did not place her wedding ring in a draw.  She designed a new ring, an everyday kind of ring, and incorporated the diamonds from her wedding ring.  I cheered her on for her ingenuity to keep his memory close at all times.


A gal in my critique group wrote about the best Christmas present she ever received.  She inherited her late mother-in-law’s mink coat.  She loved her dearly, but when she put on the coat, she felt like she stepped out of the 1950’s.  She hated the thought of it placed in a box and stacked on a closet shelf.  Her husband took it to a furrier and surprised her at Christmas with a brand new mink stole.  I choked up when I read her words of love for her mother-in-law and the beautiful mink cape she wore for a classy event in frigid Flagstaff during the holidays.




The Spiritual Trade off
I don’t have a mink coat or extra diamonds to create something new.  I do have some things, however, that I want to trade.

There is a Christian song I like to sing when I think of trading my stuff with Jesus.  As in any relationship, there is an exchange.  With Jesus, I give Him what I have but He gives me back much more.

The song goes like this:  “I’m trading my sorrows.  I'm trading my shame.  I'm trading my sickness.  I'm trading my pain; I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord.  Yes, Lord!  Yes, yes Lord!”


The widow had to give the jeweler her wedding ring to receive the new everyday ring.  The husband had to give the mink coat to the furrier to receive the new mink cape.  

I have to give God my pain, but He gives me His joy.  It’s an excellent trade-off and one that makes me smile!

Comments

  1. He always gives more than we can even imagine!
    Beautiful post Mary.
    New Years blessings!

    xo All my heart,
    Deborah

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    1. So true. We can't out give Jesus! Warm hugs, my friend.

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  2. What a beautiful post, Mary. When I read your final sentence it reminded me of Isaiah 61:3...He gave them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

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    1. I am encouraged, Dianna, by the scripture quote! Love it.

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  3. After my father's death, mother did the same thing with her wedding/engagement rings - together with those of her mother. Today, that ring is my own wedding band - more precious than anything Tiffany's might create.

    Love the story of the mink stole, as well. Mostly, I love your 'swapping with Jesus' song!

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    1. Wow, the things we learn about one another through a simple blog post. Love your story; it moves me deeply. Haha--Jesus is a good swapper!

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  4. Mary, this is such a beautiful post! (teary-eyed here). Thank you so much for sharing.

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    1. Aww...thank you, Linda, for telling me you liked my words!

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  5. Beautiful! I too love that song. What a wonderful way keep memories.

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    1. I've been singing it all week! Love and prayers, Melalnie.

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  6. Hi Mary! I think that song says it all so beautifully. I also liked the image of Jesus saying that what we have is all he wants. Perfect!
    The thought of trading in all my negatives and trusting that he will make good of it makes me smile too. It's reallly the only way to live a strong life. I know I can't do it on my own, that's for sure.
    Have a great week!
    Ceil

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    1. We're smart gals knowing we can't do it alone! Everybody needs Jesus. Blessings, Ceil.

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  7. I am sorry about your best friend's husband's passing. I do remember you wrote about his ill health a few months back. What a nice thing to do with the ring though, as well as the stole from the mother in law. I like trading my sorrows, etc., for the joy of the Lord for the joy of the Lord is my strength :)

    betty

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    1. Thanks, Betty. Yes, the Lord's joy is our strength!

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  8. What a great story you have told! How wonderful to know that whatever we offer up to the Lord, He has a way of turning it into something far greater than we can imagine! Hugs to you today :)

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    1. We can't outgive God as the saying goes! It's always a far greater return!

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  9. What a wonderful post, my friend. So true and very moving to me right now. It made me think of how God gives us beauty for ashes. We come to Him with our brokenness, and as we surrender it to Him, He makes us over again to fill us afresh and anew. Love and appreciate you so very much!

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    1. I love your thoughts here...now you are the one encouraging me!

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  10. And when we trade off with Jesus, we are always the greatest benefactor! Lovely sentiments so well expressed, Mary. :)

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    1. Thank you for reading it, Pam. Love your visits.

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  11. I love this analogy! What a nice read to wake up to. Thank you to for your kind words about my book. It might be my last one that comes out depending how it goes but I am trusting God to make clear my path.

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    1. I'm reviewing a few books right now but would love to read your new novel when I get a chance. I know I will learn so much from you.

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  12. Recently someone told me that the millennial generation doesn't value family treasures handed down to them. Just the thought of it grieved me. I can't imagine being without my mom's silly little Dutch blue nicknacks, or my grandmothers old, cracked mixing bowls, or my granddad's clock. These treasures connect me to my roots.

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    1. Interesting to hear a man's point of view. I like it. I threw away my husband's mother's pasta strainer a few years ago because it was all bent and old fashioned aluminum. Big fight here. Who knew that thing meant so much??????

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  13. I'm sure I must have blogged even a couple of times how when exercising one day, the symbol of "+" sign came to mind. That moment, how I thought of when we surrender to our good Lord, everything in our lives becomes a "plus" when we involve Him. Your post rings true. What a trade! No loss but gain!

    How quickly the Lord turned the situation in my son's journey to a plus. When we focus on Him, truly, the mind set becomes productive and rejoices no matter what goes on! Thank you sister Mary for always being there, feeling the support from your love and prayers. Thank you for this post! Love and blessings.

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    1. What a victory for your boy. I love to pray for you guys because there is always a radical praise to jump up and down for in the end. I love your precious family.

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  14. I don't understand this... but my husband and I have indicated that when one of us is in Heaven, the wedding rings would be spread wonderfully and around and about. I'd use his, he'd use mine! I anticipate being in Heaven soon. Can't read well or say very well and write very well... but worship and pray and glorify the Lord day-by-day, night-by-night, moment-by-moment. All I can do. Thank you.....

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    1. You are so sweet to visit me with all your health problems and I send you a warm hug in return!

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  15. Such a sweet illustration. I love the ingenuity involved in these stories and how the reflect God's creative power at work in redeeming and remaking what we give Him! Pleasure to stop by today- you've put a smile on my face : )

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    1. So glad you caught a smile here,Bethany! Thx for dropping by.

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  16. Oh Dear Mary, How I loved reading this! Melted my old heart. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  17. Ahhhhh… the secret to that warm and loving smile… No we know.

    Love the wisdom and heart here, Mary. It's not a perfect world, but we strive for the One that carries us through in His time and to His place.

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    1. We are a blessed people, Floyd, to know Jesus and be able to do that divine exchange

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  18. I do love that beautiful song and I can hear it now. Your story of the ring and fur coat making something new out of the old, does remind us of how our Lord makes us new. Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.

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  19. It is a very good trade off! And now I have that song going through my head, which is another very good thing. :) Thank you for this timely reminder.

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    1. I confess that I sing it often. I always have some pain or sorrow to trade. Better His joy!

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  20. I like the trade off,Mary.
    Happy New Year. How have you been?
    Hope your holidays went well?
    Hugs

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  21. What a blessing that Jesus is willing to do that trade!!!

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