It’s no secret that I am a “professional” yard saler. It’s not really in my bio, but maybe it should be. I guess the term “professional” defines someone who makes money from that endeavor, yet I don’t make money from it, but wouldn’t saving thousands of dollars count?
If a hidden treasure is out there to find, most likely I have found it. But every once in awhile something just strikes me, and it’s not about the item, or the item’s use, or even the practicality of what it can bring to my household. It’s about something a little deeper.
Yes, I am pondering the presence of my yard sale find. 🙂
The color of this cup jumped out at me, and I knew she would look perfect on my window sill. She was standing all by herself on a nasty, wooden table surrounded by heaps of junk, but somehow she called to me, and it was more than the $0.25 price tag.
As we reached home, I washed her up and placed her in her rightful place. She glistened as the sunlight streamed through just so, and I was memorized at what a little clean up could do, and then I saw it…
…a chip on the side of the glass; a chip which caused her to lose her purpose – to no longer be wanted by her owner.
But I wanted her.
I didn’t know she was broken, but now that I did, I wanted to keep her even more.
She reminds me of myself. Maybe you’ll recognize her as well.
When I found her, she stood by herself amidst of sea of junk, broken, lonely, and wondering if her purpose was of value. She, knew intimately her flaws, but still desired to be used.
Daily, I look at this beautiful glass, and am reminded how easy it is to wash ourselves up, put on our pretty face, and hide our chips from those looking. Yet, she ministers to me in a deeper way. That chip speaks words of truth to me declaring that from our chips comes true beauty. They are our story that needs to be shared. The washing and hiding process becomes pretty exhausting.
I want to pour LIFE from my cup, but with that story comes flaws.
A lot of people passed up that beautifully, unique yard sale cup, but one person wanted her, and to that one person, she spoke beauty.
Right now, I think it’s the best quarter I have ever spent, and I have spent a lot of them. (I think it just beat out my yard sale find of a lifetime.)
Today as I wash my dishes and catch the sunlight twinkles which glimmer off the side of the chip, I will remember to use my cup to its fullest, inadequacies and all.
If I truly live the “31 Days to More with Less” inspiration, I need Less of the “More Me” mentality and that’s a hard one.
The next time you’re out thrifting and you pass by a beautiful piece of chipped glassware, remember that our true beauty comes in the midst of recognizing our flaws, because when we mix all our mismatched lives together, we write one amazing story.
I love it!! Thanks for the reminder!
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Just found your blog today and I am so excited to have found you! I have been sitting here for the last hour reading your inspirational stories and relating to each one of them! You’ve been a blessing to me this morning and I just wanted to let you know! You’ve just gained another loyal supporter from this day forth :)!
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You can take an old emery board/nail file for acrylic nails or fine grit sand paper and smooth out your chip. Just to make it not so sharp in case someone would drink out of it. It will still be visible just safer.
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Jens Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Thanks so much for the tip. It’s great. Since it’s on my windowsill, I don’t think they will and for some reason, since the chip is really symbolic, I want to save it as a reminder. But I will definitely give this a try for a chip on a bowl that I love. 🙂
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That was a lovely post. What a great way to start my Monday morning. Thanks so much!
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Thank you, Jen, for this beautiful post today. Flaws and blemishes and chips … sigh. You painted a perfect picture today! xo
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What a beautiful post to remind us all to embrace are flaws….we are after all perfectly made by Him!
It was so great to meet you at Rel10! Thank you for sharing your experiences and wisdom with us all. Looking forward to next year!
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Lovely post! Thank you for sharing!
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our flaws….. oops, sorry about that! I do remember that you said you were a terrible speller…..lol
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Sweet post, Jen! Love this reminder, so true.
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How true Jen! I loved this post and your view on it…..chips and all 🙂
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Perfect! Here’s to life’s chips.
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I just LOVE this post Jen! I cherish ‘chips & stains’ on my garage sale finds that I plan to keep for myself…it shows the item has had a past & history…BUT I have never thought of these “flaws” in the way you so elegantly described in your post! What a wonderful message! I’m sure the next time I see a g-sale item calling out to me that may not be ‘flawless’, I’ll remember your blue glass and your post! Thanks Jen!
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Lovely reminder.
Frugal Fashionista soon, Jen? 🙂
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OK, I have to ask – have you finished your secretary? You’re right, my jaw DID drop when you said the price, because I have almost the identical secretary in my bedroom – the doolallys at the top look the same. BUT, mine is in perfect condition, and I won’t ever paint it because it’s an original heirloom from my husband’s grandparents’ house, plus the finish is gorgeous. You outdid yourself on this find – I could never be that blessed.
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Great story! Who woulda thought such a story could come out of a quarter chipped cup. Thank you for sharing at Relevant this weekend too!
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lovely post — a lovely glass and a lovely reminder that no one is perfect, but everyone has value.
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I think that God allows our chips to remain as a reminder that we need him…
Thanks so much for this!
Bernice
http://bernicewood.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/trying-so-hard-to-be-myself/
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Absolutely lovely Jen, not just your find, but your sentiment. You are so beautiful!
xo
Kate
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This is a truly beautiful post. I love it! Blessings!!!
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I am so glad we can all be found by God in a pile of junk.
And I am so glad I got to meet you this weekend!
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I absolutely love the sentiment. Even with our not perfect selves there is still beauty within. I have many a 25 cent find and have them displayed in my home. The older I get the more attracted I am to the things that have character like this. I think the beauty we find in them comes with our own life experiences. Thanks for sharing such a lovely find. It looks so beautiful in its place of honor.
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Beautiful, just beautiful. The glass as well your words. I can picture so vividly, that glass catching the morning sun in my kitchen window. I just love how God can allow us to catch a glimpse of His plan for us. His plan for our future, to make us in His image, overlooking our chips and flaws.
Thank you sweet sister.
PS: I checked out your secretary. Simply stunning. Is it finished?
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What a lovely story!!! Thank you.
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I also love garage sale items, often with little flaws and I’ve always thought they were more interesting that way. Loved this post and the symbolism of the chip/flaw. Hopefully our flaws make us more sympathetic or understanding to other people. That’s what God’s grace is all about
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What a beautiful post, Jen. I’m so thankful He still sees us as beautiful and useful when we think we have no purpose.
I’m also thankful to have gotten to sing with you at Relevant!
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I spent a few years of my life allowing myself to be “repurposed”. Your post today reminded me of something I wrote well over a year ago. I hope it’s ok if I share it here:
http://repurposed.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/the-life-i-have-chosen/
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beautifully written, Jen! Kelly
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This might be your best post yet.
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Thank you for your post! I have many jars, bottles, and dishes that I love and they have chips or cracks in them. The funny thing is usually the reason I love them is because the history that those chips and cracks represent. I love your blog, thank you for sharing all of your ideas!!
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HI! I just started reading your blog during 31 days… and I just love it!
I have to tell you that yesterday I read through your post on the Eddie Ross hutch redo and your “find of a lifetime”. Today, as I was scrolling through craigslist in St. Louis, I found YOUR hutch! The exact same “secretary” for $400!! http://stlouis.craigslist.org/fuo/2027289800.html Doesn’t that just make you feel awesome?!? Good work, girl!
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Beautiful thought to ponder!
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