These Dishes

The boxes have come out of storage. "Grace's China" is written in cursive on each side along with a few "fragile" warnings. I've always known that there's more than dishes in these boxes, but was recently reminded of the sentiment that they contain.

Somehow the boxes had gotten wet, so I had to move the dishes to a different location. As I rinsed each piece of china, my mind raced forward.

-I pictured unpacking them in a tiny house that will one day be my home.

-I imagined putting them on display in a china cabinet that probably came from Salvation Army and was a splurge for my not-so-well-off husband and me to get.

-On that same note, I envisioned them being one of my most valuable possessions. And here's why:

I have no idea what they're financially worth, and frankly, I don't care if they came from Dollar General (although I highly doubt they did). They are invaluable to me because of who gave them to me. These dishes were given to my grandmother as her wedding present, and now she has passed them on to me. DeDe means the world to me. All my life I have been blessed to be near her. I have learned with her, laughed with her, cried with her, prayed with her--she is one amazing person. I marvel at her insight and her love for the Lord and hope that one day, somehow, I can continue on her legacy.

In the mean time, the dishes are again, packaged (thank goodness I found a use for those sheets of Power Rangers tissue paper--really, why was that in our house?!). The dishes are in my hope chest... waiting. I hope to put them on display one day. I hope to have you over at my house and serve you something tasty on them. By the way, those angels are salt and pepper shakers... awww!

And while I'm thinking about it... I consider myself so blessed to have close relationships with both sets of grandparents. Even more, I am blessed that all four of them love the Lord. Praise God for His goodness. James 1:17