Retty Out Of Ugly

[God] has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV

When I was growing up, my mother created a beautiful home and yard. Her organization and attention to detail inspired other people.

She told me before she died that sometimes Daddy couldn’t find her when he came home from work. He would walk back to where our property ran into the woods and call out, “Honey, are you decorating the woods again?” One time I came home from middle school and was surprised by one of her creations—she had erected a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf between my younger sister’s bed and mine so each of us would have our own space! Needless to say, we were delighted with the change and loved the new bedspreads and matching curtains she had added as well.

At Mom’s funeral my sweet sister, Shawn, said, “Mama made pretty out of ugly.” She said our mother was the only person she knew who could turn anything ugly into something of beauty. To my grieving ears, that skill sounded just like what God does! He makes pretty out of ugly too.

As wise Solomon tells us in today’s verse, somehow in all the causes and effects of life, God—in His time, in His way, in His sweet providence—works out everything for beauty and good. In the many messes we find ourselves in, He is the only One who can make pretty out of ugly. Whether we are in a hospital bed awaiting a biopsy, estranged from a child, lonely, or grieving, God can bring beauty from it.

One of my wise mentor friends, Sweet Sherry, has a wonderful husband, Richard, going through early-onset Alzheimer’s. She concludes all her e-mails with today’s verse from Ecclesiastes, and my heart is encouraged every time we correspond.

Only God makes beautiful out of ugly. Only His people can model joy, hope, and trust through whatever challenges come their way.

Trust today that God makes everything beautiful in its time! Thank Him for His plan to create beauty from your pain and for His lovely presence with you today and always.