being a pencil

A good friend sent this to me and I felt it was perfect for where I am and for where I need to remind myself to be on a daily basis. We may sometimes think that what we can do is limited and we are useless (or others might think that and make us doubt ourselves) - BUT God has a plan and can use us just as we are for His glory. I am rejoicing that He sees me as useful and whole because of Him. May we each be available to Him today - to be used how He sees fit!


“ So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” ”
Exodus 4:2 (NKJV)
The most popular technology in my classroom is an old-fashioned, hand-cranked pencil sharpener. I have to empty the shavings almost every day.
Who could have predicted that a stick of cedar seven inches long would be so useful for so many years to so many people: writers and editors, teachers and test takers, artists and composers, carpenters and puzzle masters?
Perhaps the greatest virtue of the pencil is its abundance. I’m never more than ten feet from a pencil. Almost three billion of them are manufactured every year in America alone.
The pencil is a good metaphor for one of the most treasured of character traits: availability. If I want to be a more valuable and useful person, I need to be more available.
“Will you teach my Sunday school class while I’m on vacation?”
“Yes, I can do that.”
“Can I talk to you for a few minutes; it’s important.”
“Sure, have a seat.”
“Could you give me a hand with these groceries?”
“You bet.”
I don’t need a college degree, movie-star looks or money in the bank to be more useful. I just need to be handy.
When I say yes , I become a pencil in the hand of God and He can write His story through me.
Yes, God, whatever You want me to do today, the answer is yes .
By Daniel Schantz