Heart Construction

I just got back from a road trip. I drove halfway across the country with three of my teenagers (do I sense a collective gasp?). Let me mention that if you're driving 800 miles from home with a car full of teens, don't even try to reach for the radio knob. Never. No, reach for your wallet instead. Promptly empty it out in the snack section of the convenience stores connected to every gas station from the starting point of your trip to the ending point, then back again. You think gas is expensive? Just try filling teenagers' tanks without taking out a mortgage. Not easy. And traveling makes them hungry. Of course, running, standing and sitting all make them hungry too. Breathing seems to make them hungry. I noticed that even the orange construction cones made them think of Twinkies. Mile after mile of road construction. There aren't enough Twinkies in this hemisphere to satisfy that many miles of food cues. There are other road construction cues - better ones. When I got home from the trip, I had a lovely devotional reminder from my friend, Toni Castor. Toni sent me her devotional called, "Potholes." I just knew I had to share it with you:

"Like most mornings, I was up at the crack of dawn ready to start my day. We were spending the weekend at our friends' place in Imperial, MO. I was anxious to get out for my morning walk. Since my friend, Carolyn, wasn't up yet, I decided to walk the first couple of miles of the 'lower 40' by myself. The road we walk is ugly- full of trash, lots of potholes and the dirty smell of weeds. But that morning I was seeing it through different eyes. As I walked, I looked down at the potholes and saw all my past and present sins. I felt sad. Then I looked toward the side of the road and saw lush green trees and beautiful wildflowers in hues of purple, white, pink and yellow. A few days before they had been just ugly weeds. All of a sudden I realized what the Lord was showing me. Even though my sins were many, he had forgiven me. And once I, too, was an ugly weed, yet he has made me a beautiful flower. I've been perfected by his love. Every pothole has been completely filled by the love of God and by the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. I rounded the bend, and then turned to head back when I noticed right in the middle of the road was the largest pothole on the entire road. Of all things, it was shaped like a heart! What a powerful reminder that God's love is all I need. No more heart-shaped potholes in my life. He has filled me at the very heart of who I am. He has saved me!"

"Dearest Father, thank you for bringing me into your open arms and for making me your child. Thank you that the potholes of sin in my life are forgiven through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ and that now I'm filled with him instead!" (Written by Toni Castor, biblebuddy2004@yahoo.com.)

All along life's road, our loving Heavenly Father is doing his own mercy-filled construction. It's a beautiful reconstruction of our hearts. Psalm 86:5 says, "For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abundant in faithful love to all who call on you" (HCSB). Call on him. He will fill every empty place with his mercy and grace. In every complete and eternal way, he can even fill my teenagershe truly is a God of miracles!

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Rhonda Rhea is the author of "Who Put the Cat in the Fridge" and other insanely fun books, including "Amusing Grace" and "Turkey Soup for the Soul--Tastes Just Like Chicken." She is a radio personality and humor columnist and speaks at conferences and events nationwide. Rhonda lives in the St. Louis area with her pastor/husband and their five children. Find out more at www.RhondaRhea.net.