Junkyard Turkey Robot

Wooden blocks litter every inch of our livingroom, deliberately placed by Parker who sits, blond hair touseled in the middle. In his hand is a broken piece of one of his toys and he has been transfixed in this spot for hours. He has taken this broken arm of a car crusher crane and instead of bemoaning it's brokeness, turned it into something else...his turkey robot. Yes, and his turkey robot goes everywhere with him. This new friend who talks and makes great "creaking" sounds when it moves is Parker's best friend in ridding the world of evil. Currently it is helping him "recicle" (sounds like bicycle but means recycle) the garbage (the wooden blocks)of this junkyard and save the earth. He told me that the crane brought the junk to his "bin" and his feet "gruppled" (his word) the garbage.
Parker constantly gives us joy as he expresses his views of the world. In Mexico while watching a baby cow nurse he told us all about it drinking from it's "mama's pink bottom." His hands often have special powers and his drink of choice for the last few years has been, "cold, big, fresh, pink milk." Life is never dull and I often wish that I lived in his reality!
Here's the thing. I cannot tell you how many times I almost threw that darned broken crane piece away... it seemed useless to me, not worth cluttering up our space. But you know what I kept staring at during naptime? That broken crane piece and the Lord began to speak to my heart.
How often do I stay in my own set ways assuming that I know what is valuable in my life and what is not? Pretty much most of the time. It fairly easy to whiz through a day on my own assumptions of what I should do and how it should be. How often do I discard a situation or an opportunity because it does not line up with MY idea of what should be? and here's the rub...
How often do I stop and consider those "junk" pieces before the Lord and let Him talk to me about what they COULD be? How often do I toss out what the Lord had planned for good? How often do I take the easier road in relationships, playing it safe or protecting myself, bemoaning the brokeness when the Lord may have something bigger and better in mind?

Doesn't Scripture say:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

And that He will:

"provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor."
Isaiah 61:3

And more than anything:

" For nothing is impossible with God"
Luke 1:37


And why did it take my four year old's broken toy for me to finally stop and consider this? How many junkyards might the Lord want to heal if I am willing to pause and listen?


****For some reason I am still having problems with the comments section on here. If you would like to contact me you can also email me at shannon_miller72@yahoo.com ...thanks to those of you who have already been doing this!