Value of a Butter Knife

by Kaelyn Pfenning

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful;

I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

 

Have you ever tried to use a steak knife to spread cream cheese on a bagel?

One morning I opened the silverware drawer and found the slot where the butter knives are kept – empty.

I improvised.

First, I grabbed a steak knife. Slicing through the cream cheese, I tried to spread it on a nice, warm bagel. Clumping, the cream cheese did not spread evenly.

The point was too thin.

Next, I grabbed a fork, chopped into the cream cheese, and began to spread it, but the holes in the fork leaked cream cheese unevenly on the bagel.

The slits were too wide.

Finally, I grabbed a spoon, scooped out more cream cheese, and lavished it on the bagel. Working better than the other two, the cream cheese compacted where I set it.

The curve was too thick.

Although all the pieces were silverware, each one was created for a different purpose. The steak knife had a sharp edge to cut tough meat. The fork had slits and points to poke food. The spoon had a full curve to scoop up liquid.

Like the steak knife, the butter knife has a long, smooth, straight end not only to cut the cream cheese but also to spread it evenly.

Each utensil is a piece of silverware created for a different, specific purpose. Each believer is a member of God’s family created for a different, specific purpose.

Our everlasting Father made each individual with the exact combination of talents and skill and strength.  Will you choose to thank God for making you wonderful and unique?

Kaelyn Michelle Pfenning is currently employed as a staff writer for The People-Sentinel in Barnwell, SC. She graduated from North Greenville University in May, 2010 with a bachelor of arts degree in print media and had a number of articles published in the college paper The Skyliner and the Greer Citizen, a local newspaper. She is the third child in a family of six members total and attended one of the Write2Ignite conferences held at NGU.