Beyond Common Sense

While reading this verse this morning, this little story came to mind. Read or listen. Your choice. 🙂

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

2 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV)

He was old. His work was done for the most part, all except his crowning creation. No one knew about it except for the waif who ran his errands. His wife was gone. Their one daughter was still young according to his calendar, but she ran by a different clock.

He was a goldsmith, but not just any goldsmith. He had fashioned the crowns for kings all over the continent. His excellence had been much sought after, and he had enjoyed great accolades in his time. But that was all in the past. Now, he just had this one small task which carried more weight than all the others combined.

“Papa,” his daughter called as she came through the front door. He quickly put down his tools and left the tiny workshop attached to his living room and quietly closed its door.

She came bustling in with bags of produce and placed them on the kitchen table. Her beautiful blond hair was disheveled from her time in the marketplace, and she unconsciously pushed the wayward strands from her face.

She was a beauty, but her father wondered if she knew it—this tiny spitfire who was a miniature of her dear mother. He walked to her and laid his hand on her arm. “Leave those. Come. Sit for a while.”

She looked up questioningly, her eyes searching his own, and smiled before walking into the living area to sit in her mother’s old chair. He sat as well in his worn rocker, leaning back and thankful for a reprieve.

“You don’t have to do this, you know,” he said quietly. “William can get all I need.”

She smiled, “And steal half of what he brings. I don’t know why you put up this the little beggar.”

“Because he has no one else,” he said. His look was a mixture of compassion and sorrow as he gazed out the window but quickly changed his mood and focused on his sweet child. She came as often as she could, but the parish duties and her own household of three kept her busy. After asking about her husband and his work and then the children, he just sat and soaked in the moment, enjoying her telling of her life, so busy with the cares of this world and yet she kept her spirit bright and her call purposeful.

All too soon, she needed to go. Slowly, trying to hide the aches and pains of old age, he stood as straight as possible and pulled her into his embrace. “You are doing a good work for the Kingdom,” he said as he held her.

“Sometimes I wonder,” she said and laid her weary head on his shoulder. “I seem to be so busy with all the mundane cares of life.” She sighed and pulled back to look into his wrinkled face and bright eyes that always brought her comfort as well as wisdom.

He smiled. “Oh, daughter.” He reached down and took her hands, bringing them to his lips. “Those mundane tasks are the ones that shout the loudest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Like, bringing food to your old Papa, sowing words of wisdom into three young lives, and standing by your husband in the midst of his struggles and battles.”

Her shoulders drooped, and she shook her head. “But aren’t those things the least of what is required?”

He smiled and touched her cheek. “It should be, but you know how many do not do even the least of these things with a heart toward God. Too many are busy chasing their desires, leaving their little ones and husbands to follow their dreams.” His face grew serious. “Keep running your race with your eyes on the true prize.”

His words gave her strength, and she hugged him once more. “Thank you, Papa.”

Several weeks passed as he patiently heated and twisted and shaped the crown. His hands shook, and he mostly sat to do the work, praying his strength would hold until the job was complete. At last, it was done. For a long moment, he just sat and admired the crown. The delicate threads of gold rose and fell around the base, and tiny rubies and diamonds brought splashes of color as the sunlight streamed onto the workbench. It was not an imposing piece, but its beauty surpassed anything he had ever created.

That night, he composed a letter and then placed it and the crown into the ornate box he always used to keep his treasures. His work was complete.

When morning dawned, the goldsmith awoke to the splendors of heaven. William found him still in his bed and rushed to the daughter. With tears in his eyes, he choked out the news.

When the details were settled and the funeral was done, his daughter came to the little home and began the heartbreaking task of sorting through her father’s things. When she saw the beautiful wooden box on a shelf in the neat little workshop, she placed it on the workbench and opened it. Inside was the letter and beneath it was the crown. She took it to the living room, sat with the box on her lap, and read:

Dear daughter,

My task is done. I cannot tell you the joys I am experiencing. How do I know, since I am writing this before my death? The same way all Jesus’ followers know, He said it would be so. Please, don’t be sad. Rejoice that I am once again with your mother and our precious Savior, God, and King. And keep fighting the good fight of faith. I’ve watched you as you’ve grown into the amazing woman you now are. Your heart for God speaks loudly. I truly have no greater joy than watching you walk in the truth, and I have joy upon joy knowing that my grandchildren are being taught to walk the same walk.

I’ve fashioned this crown for you. I have fashioned it as I have watched you grow and follow and live for God, much like our Lord is fashioning our crowns as we live for Him. I pray that this crown will be a reminder of the perfect crown of righteousness you will one day wear and cast at His feet in glorious worship with all the saints. Dear daughter of the King, when you are discouraged, take up this crown, wear it, look into the mirror, and find strength and courage from it to continue on your journey of faith.

She took the crown from its beautiful box and placed it upon her head, walking to a mirror and staring at her reflection. The sun’s rays reflected off the gold and lit each jewel until it seemed as though a heavenly light had brought life to it. Her breath caught, and she wept. “Oh, Papa! Thank you. It will be a sweet reminder of you and our Savior.” Tears slipped down her cheeks, kissed by the Son.

She would return again and again to the crown, even though she never wore it in public. But then came the day when her own daughter, so full of life with a heart for God, had found the one whom she wished to spend her life. As her wedding day approached, her mother took her to her room and pulled the ornate box from the top shelf in her closet. The daughter had always wondered what was in the box, but never had the courage to touch it.

As her mother placed it on the bed, both sat in quiet anticipation as she opened the box. Her daughter looked on in wonder. “Mother, it is beautiful.” She could say no more.

Her mother lifted the treasure and held it in her lap while telling its story. “It’s now yours. Perhaps you would like to wear it on your wedding day.”

“But,” the daughter began and then was silent. When she saw her mother’s tender look, she smiled and nodded. “I would be honored.” We all have a crown that is being fashioned as we live out our lives here on earth. The Master is forging it as we work for Him, being His hands, His feet, His heart. And even though we can not pull it out of a special place and wear it, may the thought of its worth keep us focused on the joy of someday casting it down at His feet in perfect worship.