Re-purposed

At my house retaining walls are made from stones;
re-purposed into a new usefulness born.
Fitting together, however,
takes the art of being clever.

Straight sides matched,
notches patched.
Inventive,
decorative.

Reminds me of patchwork,
this re-purposed stonework
laid side by side,
narrow with wide.

Rectangles,
triangles,
squares
paired.

Do these stones represent life's hard knocks?
Perhaps true and, yes, there are lots.
Each hard knock is a piece
that unsettles your peace.

It will shape your attitude
to be one of angst or gratitude.
Attitude, though, is your own choice
that would bring you down or rejoice.

Hard knocks are not meant to defeat us.
Their purpose is meant to define us.
More kind, refined,
letting our light shine.

Next time you see a stone retaining wall
which over the years has stood strong and tall
think of the patchwork pieces of your life
joined together by many joys with some strife.

These pieces make a whole
in the end making you whole
for though hard knocks feels like you're in a hole
the work of re-purposing is its goal.

You'll find when you're on the other side of it
you'll be changed and better off for it.
Remember the school of hard knocks
is an opportunity that knocks.

Metamorphosis
will transform us.
Re-purposed
with a new purpose.

* * * * *

Sometimes when opportunity knocks
all we want is to find a way out.
To turn the clock back in time to yesterday, quickly
for it doesn't feel like an opportunity.

We find change makes us unsure.
We don't like feeling insecure.
Change, though, matures our faith
as it's a testing of our faith.

It's when we learn to trust
and rest in faith, it's just
believing God is able to turn it into good
if we patiently wait in faith, like we know we should.

Waiting, a testing to grow us up.
Sometimes an overflowing cup
of unknown blessings to be discovered
as we pick up the pieces and recover.

Now with a new purpose.
One that refines us.
All those broken pieces will fit together like a beautiful patchwork.
When we allow God to piece us back together, we discover our worth.

Consider it pure joy
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything.
James 1:3-4

For we are God's workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10