I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

When we went to the beach, we did something we haven’t done before. We collected sea glass. We found green, brown, and even black sea glass. They were frosty looking with smooth edges that came in all different sizes. It blows my mind that people find broken pieces of glass and take them home as a treasure. They aren’t being thrown away, they’re being collected!

I had to find out a little about how sea glass is formed. Wikipedia says that sea glass begins as normal shards of broken glass that are then persistently tumbled and ground until the sharp edges are smoothed and rounded. In this process, the glass loses its slick surface but gains a frosted appearance over many years.

People who collect sea glass as a hobby want to know the story behind what they find. Was it from a medicine bottle or a soda bottle?  Was it from a plate or a jelly jar?  Was it from a windshield or from art work?  Was it from the time of the Great Depression?  Was it earlier or more recent?

The glass starts out all nice, new, and shiny. Then, something happens to cause it to break. What is left is that sharp edge that can cut so easily.

That’s life for human beings too. That’s our story.  We start out new and innocent when we are born, but gain sharp edges along the way. It happens each time we deal with something unpleasant in life. It could be anything from a negative comment to a loss of a loved one. Yet, there’s hope for our sharp edges to be smoothed out.

Did you know that it takes sea glass 20-30 years, sometimes even 50, to get to where it’s the appearance that is desired? For us, God is the one to smooth our rough edges. Don’t get frustrated when it doesn’t happen overnight. Just like sea glass, it takes a bit of time. It’s a process that continues all through our lives.

The character trait for today is Discretion-recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences (definition from characterfirst.com).

Today use discretion in what you say and how you act so your sharp edges don’t cut those you come in contact with. Emotions are one of the main things that bring about negative consequences. When I questioned a wise woman about how to handle undesirable emotions, she told me not to let them control me. When I asked her how to not let them get the best of me, her answer was very simple. She said, “Be nice.”

You’re a treasure to God no matter how you go to Him. He just wants you…your rough edges and all. However, I believe each time you simply be nice in the face of overwhelming emotions, you are allowing God to smooth out those rough edges. Then, you become the treasure to all those around you, not just to God.