The Brown Paper Bag

THE BROWN PAPER BAG While walking down a path one day a paper bag lay there I saw such things so many times, I wondered why I cared. It was light brown like other bags, but what was different now Was it was not an empty bag, and so I wondered how— How could somebody leave a bag, what could there be inside? Was it some money, spoiled food, or an animal that died? With careful hands I opened it, to my dismay I found Just rocks and weeds and lots of clay dug up there from the ground. Oh, what a worthless bag it was! Why did I take the time? Why was I curious on that day? just came then to my mind. But suddenly, as if from God, a message there He gave: My life was like that paper bag so worthless there to save. It had a lot of rocks inside and weeds from sinful life, Yes, nothing God could want with me and all my daily strife. But God looked past the rocks and weeds, for He saw there the clay The very thing He made man with on that creation day. He knew what He could make of me if I’d just let Him in, He’d take the rocks and weeds away when He cleansed all my sin. Now many years have passed since then, I’m still that paper shell That often disappoints my God who now I love so well. I still have rocks and weeds in there, and yet there’s still the clay That God can take and mold of me if I let Him have His way! God’s Son walked down a path one day and knowing all too well So many people were down here and on their road to hell. He didn’t care if rocks or weeds had cluttered up their day, He saw a treasure in them there in that small lump of clay. I’m glad God took MY “paper bag” and did not leave it there And saw inside what He could use and placed me in His care! He takes away the rocks and weeds and molds that precious clay To what will be a precious thing in heaven’s home some day! --Based on thoughts by a message by Eddie Hamby, HBC, April, 2019