The Antique Tray

I love one particular shop in my favorite place of Amish buggies.
Some may call it a thrift shop but it is so much more.
There are clothes, housewares, toys, and books.
The shop supports a Mennonite mission.

There are Mennonite women who work there.
I see Amish women as well, as evidenced by the buggies parked in the back.
An elderly Amish man is always there when I bring donations.
His long beard, black pants, and suspenders make that quite obvious.

I enjoy looking at the toys, since I have children in my home with their mothers all the time.
I enjoy looking at the housewares, since I can find some vintage Pyrex dishes there.
I have found the occasional Revere Ware pots and pans, that I can add to my set.
My pots and pans were my mother’s; they are seemingly indestructible after all these years.

My favorite room in the shop is the one with the sign above the door: Antiques.
My eyes never know what to look at first.
I have found countless things in that room alone.
It was on my last visit to the store that I found a treasure.

It caught my eye right away.
Something was actually on top of the item, which I had to move in order to see it.
It was an old serving tray.
Each end of the oval tray had metal loops for carrying.

It was the wood around the tray that I saw first.
I did not need a tray; however, something about this one called to me.
It was when I moved the object that was on top of the tray, I saw it.
It was then I knew that I would buy the tray.

The tray itself was black.
Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was actually a chalkboard.
When I removed the item from on top of the tray, I saw that words were printed on it.
It was a verse from Psalm 107.

Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. (Psalm 107:8)

It was as if a light bulb went off in my mind.
I decided that I can have the tray set out on Thanksgiving.
I can have chalk nearby.
Everyone can write one thing for which they are thankful.

I bought the tray.
I came home and cleaned it up a bit.
I took a picture and sent it to my family.
I wanted them to know ahead of time what I planned to do.

Whoever made the tray had a marvelous idea.
As you serve others, you are thinking about things for which you are thankful.
As you serve others, and they read the words on the tray, it may prompt them to think as well.
I am so excited to used the tray.

I thought that it might be a good idea to leave my family’s writing on the tray.
It would be wonderful to see from one year to the next.
It will chronicle the Lord’s goodness.
It will help us all to remember.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance  and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19)

Ten lepers were healed by Jesus.
Only one of the ten came back to thank Him.
Jesus ties thankfulness together with faith.
The thankful leper had faith that Jesus was the Source of his healing.

Recognizing he was healed and Who did the healing, the leper came back.
The leper took the time to thank the gentle Healer.
Jesus asked about the other nine.
His question was rhetorical, since He already knew the answer.

Thankfulness and faith.
We probably never considered the connection.
To Jesus, thankfulness and faith are interconnected.
To be truly thankful, we must consider the source of our good gifts.

I am so glad I found the antique chalkboard tray.
The tray will be a thankfulness reminder.
It will be a reminder of the One from who all blessings flow.
God is the Giver of all good gifts.

Amen.

 

2 responses to “The Antique Tray”

1. So true that faith and thankfulness go together–thanking the One who gives us all good things increases our faith in Him. I’ve found that the more we thank Him, the closer we feel to Him.

   Looking at the tray, the frame reminds me of the kind used to frame photographs i the early 1900’s; I have one that belonged to my grandmother. Maybe the chalkboard was added later.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     What a good eye you have! Perhaps someone modified the tray just as you said. The tray is still very special to me and will hopefully be the start of a new family tradition.
     Gina

     Reply