Leave Your Mark

There is a story told about a master craftsman who created a pencil and spoke to it before sending it out into the world. “There are five things,” he said, “that I want you to always remember to have a productive life.” His words, though meant for the pencil, echo God’s wisdom for our hearts.

First, the master said, “The most important part of you will always be what's inside. Your true worth is within you.” A pencil’s value isn’t the painted wood on the outside, but the lead inside. So it is with us. Appearances, titles, or possessions don’t measure our true worth. It comes from the image of God imprinted deep in our souls (cf. Genesis 1:27).

Second, the master said, “You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time so that your worth becomes known.” A pencil must be sharpened to fulfill its purpose. And so must we. Sometimes life’s sharpenings hurt. But in God’s hands, they’re shaping you, refining you, preparing you to leave a clearer, stronger mark (cf. Malachi 3:3).

Third, the master said, “You will do great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.” That’s us with God. On our own, we’re just sitting there — full of potential but not fulfilling it. But when we place ourselves in the hands of the Master, He writes stories we could never write alone (cf. Psalm 139:10).

Fourth, the master said, “You will make mistakes, but you can correct them.” Pencils come with erasers; lives come with forgiveness. Through Christ, we are not defined by our failures. His mercy rewrites our story (cf. 1 John 1:9).

Finally, the master said, “No matter what, you have to keep writing. No matter what surface you use, leave a meaningful mark.” Life will not always give you smooth paper. Sometimes the surface will be rough—unexpected detours, struggles, or opposition. But keep going. Keep doing good. Keep living out your calling.

So, next time you pick up a pencil, let it remind you of these truths. Just like the pencil needs sharpening, direction, and an eraser, so do we. And with Jesus Christ as our Creator and Savior, we can trust that He will use us to do something extraordinary for His glory.