Three Kinds of Gloves

There was once a story about a man who set about to craft some gloves. The first pair he made were flannel and warm, so he gave them to his son. The second pair he made were dainty kid gloves, soft as silk. To his wife he gifted these. Then he made himself a fine pair of heavy work gloves.
The work gloves he used daily in his shop. They lost their newness swiftly over the next few weeks, but each wear mark was well worth it for all of the good accomplished by it.
The fine, silken, lady's gloves were stored in her vanity drawer amid her shawls and scarves, smelling of perfume and fragrance.  Even after a long period of time elapsed, because she rarely wore them, save on occasion to improve her outfit, or on a special event, they were still quite fine.
The child's warm mittens however, hung in the closet in the dark, quite free from use. They were kept quite new until the cold winter came and compelled them to be taken from comfort and used in the ice and snow. Quite a good deal they accomplished for their user while the winter lasted. But as soon as the warm days commenced, they once again returned to the warm comfort of the closet.

So our lives can be compared to gloves.

Who are we to be likened to? The boy's warm mitts? Are we comfortable and "hanging" with ease in life, quite content and rested? Yes, we're redeemed. Heaven bound. But what do we do for Him? We don't bother to be of service if it requires coming out of our comfort zones. But as long as we may stay there, just "chilling" we're fine. Until trials come. The "cold" sets in. Then we are compelled to seek Him. Te desire His warmth. We cry out for Him. Then we are used by Him. But as soon as the trials are past, the "warm", good old days return, we slip back into our ease. Our closed, little closet.
Or are we like the lady's tender gloves? We look good and smell good, and live good. We sit on our scented couches amid "feathers" and "fragrance" looking all the world like wonderful Christians. We go to church for appearance. We let God "use" us on the special occasion. But we're not really living for Him. We are not really dedicated to His service. We're an empty glove.
Or are we like the worn, old work glove?  We may not look fancy. We may not be comfortable all the time, but we are at peace. We let God use us day by day, daily giving in to His will. We are constantly desiring  to be filled with Him, used by Him. Molding to His hand, more and more with each passing day. We are out to accomplish His work, living up to our title. A "work" glove.

What kind of glove are you? Are you hiding away in a closet? Living a beautiful mockery? Or are you at the lowly rank of the humble work glove? 

                                                                                                                            A. M. L.