IT IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT

Once upon a time, there was a child whose father gave him a set of blocks and told him to build something. It could be anything, but he had to use all the blocks.

Some of the blocks were large and sturdy, creating a natural foundation for his work. Some fit easily, while others were oddly shaped and seemed to not want to fit anywhere. They felt off-balance and were pushed aside. But as the creation took shape, these unused blocks began to trouble the child.

Knowing they must be used, but at a loss for how to use them, he sought his father’s help. His father, wanting to see his child succeed, offered some suggestions. He toiled over these blocks, carefully following his father’s suggestions. After more work, and lots of trial and error the child was able to complete the task.

Owing to the difficulty of the project, he was very pleased with his creation. Interestingly, he was most pleased with the placement of the oddly-shaped blocks because they had required so much attention, and hurried to show his father his work. As you can expect, the father was overjoyed at the beautifully unique work his child had created.

One of the greatest gifts we’ve been given in life is the ability to create.

Each of us has been given our own set of blocks. Some are welcome, solid, and foundational. Others are far more difficult, if not unwanted. But we cannot discard any of the blocks we’ve been given. They’re ours. They’re part of who we are, and they too can become key elements to our master creation: our life.

Some are given more, others are given less. It doesn’t matter if you build a mansion or a sandcastle, but rather that you’ve found a place for each block in your own distinct set.

In life, we progress little by little. We learn that before we can be trusted with more, we must prove ourselves with what we have. We must be profitable stewards of the gifts that we’ve been given. And if we are, we will have the opportunity to create much, much more.

The following are a couple of inspirational poems that shed greater light on the subject with beautiful prose.

From The Builders, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, comes the stanza:

Build to-day, then, strong and sure,
With a firm and ample base;
And ascending and secure
Shall to-morrow find its place.

See also Life Sculpture, by George Washington Doane, and A Psalm of Life, also by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.