Enchanted: Milk Glass Snack Plates

     A few weeks ago I found a set of 22 karat gold trimmed milk glass dishes at our local thrift store.  The teacup sits in a circular rim on the rectangular snack plate.  The dishes were made by Anchor Hocking in the 1960‘s (1963-1972)  I have been told that ladies used them for tea and cookies or soup and sandwiches at their afternoon bridge games.

      I was immediately enchanted.  I envisioned myself sipping an herbal tea, cookies scattered across the plate while reading a book on a cold winter night or perhaps having a tea party with the girls.  The plates were $4 each and the cups were $3.  There were four sets.
     I wondered about the woman who had owned them.  She must have treasured them.  Although considered dishwasher safe, I guessed that she had gently hand washed them. They still had their delicate gold trim.  I wondered what memories had been served on their milky surface.
     Regretfully I left them on the shelf.  I did not want to tell Pat that I had spent $28.00 on used and impractical dishes.

     However, when I arrived at the register, the cashier mentioned that blue ticketed items were half price.  Instead of spending $28, I could report to my husband that I had saved $14 dollars.  I gleefully handed over fifteen dollars - for the four sets and an extra cup.
     There have been times in my life when I have felt like a thrift store item sitting on a dusty shelf.  Haven’t you?  Impractical.  Certainly not stylish.  Worn.  Cast aside.  With out obvious value.  Not useful.
     But God doesn’t love us because of what we can do for Him or even the ways we can be used.
     On a Friday 2,000 years ago, a thief woke at sunrise, left his prison cell, carried timbers up a hill and was hung on a cross beside the cross of Jesus.  This thief looked over at Jesus and saw not a man, but a King.  Not a king, but the King of Kings.  He begged, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
     And Jesus looked over at this dusty, insignificant, no longer useful man, and said, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
     The thief on the cross really did have nothing left to give.  He did not have time to go to a church service, make an offering, feed the poor, or do good works.  He could offer nothing in return, but himself.  The thief had value to Jesus just because he was.
      Our worth is not because of what we do or even will do for God.   Like the thief on the cross our value rests firmly and securely in God’s reckless, unconditional, unfailing love.  The God of the universe is madly in love with us.

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. You are precious in my eyes, because you are honored and I love you… the mountains may depart, hills may be shaken, but my love for you will never leave you and my covenant of peace with you will never be shaken. – Is 43:1,4; 54:10

     God loves us because He does.  Paul wrote to the Ephesians.

 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  ~ Ephesians 3:16-19

     Jesus loves us.  Used, impractical, and in need of cleansing.  He, too, is enchanted.

Update:  This post was featured by Angie Ouellette-Tower at God's Growing Garden.   Thank you, Angie!