Blue glass

This morning as I was driving to meet a friend for a shopping date at Goodwill, I asked God to remind me of the Divine Romance (there’s an excellent book with that title by John Eldredge). I know that He is constantly active all around me, communicating His love for me in myriad ways. So I asked God to open my eyes to see some of His “love notes” to me today.

Our shopping date was lots of fun and I was lucky enough to find several items I really needed, such as a pair of jeans and two pretty, long-sleeve shirts (December is cold!) Also found a little lamp to replace the broken one in our bedroom (it’s been dark in there for weeks!) For $4 I got a funky lamp that screws on top of a mason jar. Not just any jar, but a blue glass Ball jar! As I was cleaning it when we arrived home, I saw tiny air bubbles in the glass and noticed other marks that look exactly like my other blue glass jars (that apparently came from a little old lady’s basement). So in my non-expert opinion, this is very likely an authentic Ball jar, which means it was made no later than 1937. I have a small collection, but it’s been a long time since I found any for sale.

Now, to anyone else this would not be cause for excitement. The lamp jar is only worth what I paid for it (more at an antique store, less at an estate sale). But I love blue glass mason jars, as much for their innate beauty as for their historical charm. Beaming with happiness, I prayed, “Thank you, God!!” And He replied, “I love you, daughter!” Suddenly the words I had prayed that morning came to mind (which I had entirely forgotten until that moment).

Not only is God the giant who invented the universe and the merciful judge who, at great cost to Himself, made a way to ransom my soul; He is also the Father who sends thoughtful little gifts to remind me of His tender love.