The Table

By Carri Clark

Carri is one of our LLI 2018 Transform training alumni. God used this summer to grow her love for Him and do some deep healing in her life. May her story encourage you as you walk with Jesus.

There was a table, beautiful and strong. Everyone loved it and had wonderful memories with it. The maker created it to serve people and they were influenced by it’s qualities. The table was happy to have people use it and was available day and night for anything and anyone. 


But the maker knew that many people misused the table. He chased some of them away but knew he could not keep everything away. Over time, the table gathered scrapes, gouges and stains as it was bumped and damaged. It bore everything with a smile, but the maker could see it had no protection for itself and it’s structure was weak. The table continued, not realizing it was becoming worn and ready to fall apart. It hurt, and the scrapes stung, but it didn’t want to leave it’s work. 


Finally the wounds took their toll and the table became discouraged. How long could it continue serving people? Some intentionally damaged it. Some didn’t even notice it. And all left their mark. The table forgot all the good it was ding and the people it had helped. It forgot how to love them. It forgot the maker that could help it…But the maker knew what was happening.

One day, the maker came and took the table away from it’s place. The table was tired and went willingly, expecting a new coat of paint or something else to cheer it up for more service. But the maker knew what it needed most. The maker began to sand the table with a rough paper. The table panicked, “This hurts! Why are you doing this?” 


But the maker calmly continued his work without speaking. The maker reached every spot of the table with the paper. The table didn’t understand, “Haven’t I been through enough pain? Why are you causing more?”


The maker replied, “I am changing you. I’m going to heal the damage and make you new.” 


Relieved to hear the maker’s voice at last, the table became calm. It felt peace as the maker filled every gouge, hole and scrape. Slowly, the table changed form. It became smooth and clean. But the table began to notice, it did not look the same. All it’s edges were round! All the characteristics it had were covered! New ones were being made! “This is not me! Why did you change me so much? How can I go back like this? I don’t know how to do it! I don’t want to help those people! They will just ruin all the work you’ve done! I don’t want to be marked again!”

But the maker knew his plan. He allowed the table to rest in it’s new form. People came by and touched it, admiring the maker’s work. They talked about how they could not wait to spend quiet time and meals there. They talked about how much they missed the table. But the table was not sure, it was afraid, it did not feel comfortable in it’s new form and going back to it’s old purpose. The master began applying pain, paint that protected the table from insects and small wounds. He spoke softly to the table and it began to learn many things.

It was still a table. It was still the same wood. But it had been made better, stronger and more beautiful. It had not been changed because there was something wrong with it. It had been made for a purpose and the maker would protect it. There would certainly be more scrapes and bumps, but the maker would never be far. He might not be speaking, but he will protect from the worst injuries and repair the small.