They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but I’ve never really been a big jewelry person. I do have a soft spot for bohemian bracelets and shiny earrings, but that’s about it. Most of the jewelry I’ve kept through the years has sentimental value to me. I’d rather have jewelry that has meaning than monetary value.
I’ve always been a very sentimental and sensitive person. Even as a young child. I have boxes of keepsakes I’ve kept for years. If you have ever given me a sentimental gift, card, letter, or keepsake; there’s a good chance I still have it. It might be tucked away, but I’ll never part with it because I’m so sentimental!
I’ve always loved silver jewelry as well. One time a friend gave me her silver ring. We were best friends that summer. I wore it for over ten years until I eventually wore it out. One friend gave me a “no fear” silver charm before a surgery. I still have that one too. One time before I moved away, another best friend gave me her silver ring as a friendship keepsake. I wore it for a long time. I still have it as well.
There is a beautiful verse about silver in the Bible. Malachi 3:3 states: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Take a few moments to read the story of “The Silversmith.”
The SILVERSMITH
-Author Unknown
The woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work.
She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.
He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says:
“He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.
If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”
He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy – when I see my image in it.”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Take comfort in the fact that God is never in a hurry, will never leave your side, and only has his best in mind for you in your life; to give you a hope and a future! May he continue to refine us until his reflection shines brightly in our lives.