A Spoonful Of Love 2

A cottage almost of wedding cake appearance was "super glued" or so it seemed, high up on a Welsh hillside. The view was beyond description, gemstone bright flowers echoed the surrounding scenery as they poured down the snow-white walls, all this beauty under a canopy of blue sky from which shone a honey hued Sun, in a word, all was – perfection.

Inside this haven of serenity Trefor lived, a woodcarver of repute.

He turned out many beautiful designs, his home was surrounded by all manner of trees, from which he would chop off a fairly thick branch of elm, oak or maybe cherry, remove the bark and place on a rack where it would lie for many days, until dry and mature, ready, in Trefor’s hands to become a thing of beauty. This in itself was no rush job because for many days Trefor would study this piece of timber, until in his mind’s eye he saw the finished work. Here in his hands with the help of special shaped chisels, files plus his own skill the end product was then varnished to bring up the wood grain, adding that lustre look. The life like model now stood there in all its glory.

There lived all around his cottage much wild life. They were models for his carvings, which came alive under his skill as ornaments deluxe. It was however not so much animals that were Trefor’s first love but Love Spoons. Now what is a spoon? It is a shallow bowl at the end of a handle. A very handy tool indeed, an instrument we all early in life learn to use, who ever invented the spoon created a real useful tool indeed. Those that Trefor made were extra special they were Love Spoons, used in a different way, such as a young lad would with great care and patience carve from a piece of wood a spoon to give to his lady love as a token of his love. If she accepted it Oh! Joy of joys!

There was our hero high up this Welsh mountain with a bird’s eye view of Abercar, a small picturesque Village, which had all the usual village things, a shop which was also the hub of local news, other places of business, a café called "The Doughnut", Dress shop, Hairdresser "Crops" and much much more. Here also in this busy village tucked right in the midst was a small church named Tellwyn Mission, though small in size had a very lively group of people who met on several weekdays and of course Sunday. Under the care of Pastor Ayers, it was here that Trefor played a leading part I several ways.

It so happened that Trefor was a very shy man, very gifted in his work as a woodcarver also he took great joy in his work for Jesus. It was springtime and love was in the air for also in the church was Olwen who played the keyboard and led the music group. She was very well liked as a teacher at the village school, what has this to do with love well!

Olwen and Trefor had known each other all their lives; they had been through school together, until the time came for Olwen to go to college to gain her teaching degree. It had been for her great to get a place in her home village school, even to teach in the very classroom she had sat as a pupil. Trefor had also gone from his home village to train as a joiner and woodcarver. This for him was no big task for his father and grandfather had all been in the carving business. So it was in his blood.

So it was now that Trefor and Olwen were both back home, and working together, faithfully for the Lord in many ways, the church folk looked upon them as a couple, yet they never seemed to got round to a real relationship.

It is well known that in spring young people’s hearts do turn to love, it so happened that this Spring for our two young folk was to be a Spring with a huge SPRING.

Trefor was lonely and he remembered in scripture a word "It is not good for man to be alone". Now he had been in love with "guess who?" yes Olwen for a long time but his awful shyness held him back from any proposal.

However back in the class room while the children had heads down essay writing, Olwen allowed herself to dream of Trefor, she too was in love, "What can I do?" she thought.

It is here that maybe God took a hand in their lives.

It came about that Trefor had a brainwave, a huge electric bulb glowed above his head!! Inspiration came, "I’ll carve a love spoon" this he did, first selecting a piece of elm, already matured and fit to be carved. With great patience he whittled, smoothed and carved then whittled some more. This was to be the finest work he had ever done, love does do the strangest things to people.

So after many days there lay a Love Spoon par excellent, a spoon that was to change two lives in the most remarkable way.

Trefor sent his offering, with a little bit of fear and trembling, to Olwen, she was delighted to say the least accept his gift, dare we say with a fluttering heart now this IS love.

The details of their courtship is of small interest, enough to say that love bloomed and was even reflected in their church work, there seemed to be a new zest in all they did, which in turn effected many who came in contact with them, the love of the young couple did rub off on others and indeed helped many in lots of ways.

At long last came the great day, the sun shone bright that Saturday afternoon, the church bell rang out, the street was crowded by all the village folk of Abergar, Pastor Ayers stood book in hand at the door looking up the street, not for a limousine but for a gig all polished and decorated, fit for a bride. There in the shafts a lovely grey horse, Sam by name, in shining burnished harness, driven by Archie, a farmer friend, he too was decorated in top hat and full horseman’s gear.

The Pastor saw the retinue coming afar off, had a quick look into the church, guests all there, music filling the air, flowers giving off a heady perfume and most important the Bridegroom standing gazing into space as his Bestman whispered "She’s here". So she was, the Bridal gig pulled up, Sam gave a snort, Archie helped Olwen and her Bridesmaid down on to terra firma.

A quick smoothing of dresses, a twitch to straighten tiaras, a firm grip on bouquets finally Olwen took her Dad’s arm and they were off down between the guard of honour, two rows of her school children all holding high tree branches, well after all their teacher was about to marry a woodcarver.

Someone began to clap then a cheer went up as Pastor Ayers led this happy bride up to her Groom.

The ceremony was in keeping with the lively worship always so real in the Tellwyn Mission.

All too soon the celebration was over and the happy couple came out into the Summer Sun to the great delight of the crowd gathered there who came with their love and best wishes to them both, confetti filled the air as did cheers not forgetting cameras clicking. Trefor and Olwen were amazed at the excitement around them not that they noticed much for they had only eyes for each other and nothing else. They led on to the hotel for the meal.

So this very special day ended after a grand banquet, speeches, cake cutting the happy pair was off on honeymoon. In the centre of all this was God who had brought our friends together, Olwen and Trefor did not forget to praise the Lord for what had been a great day.

Two weeks later they were back to wood carving and teaching.

Of the two Trefor found life a bit different and upsetting for his mountain home had been a bachelor pad, but when his new bride came to stay, well! She did a bit of tidying up, brides have this habit! Despite all this love overcame, true love overcomes all and in true story fashion they lived happily ever after, especially in the work of the Lord, in this they were richly blest.

So it came about that Trefor and his wife ran the church youth club and it is so happened one evening, there was the usual twenty, Olwen and Trefor were very popular with the youngsters, Olwen dealt with variety of things from aerobics, cooking to craft work, while Trefor among other things taught wood carving, on this evening he spoke of his special delight of Love Spoons. He saw that among the group there were lads there that in time would become good carvers. He was delighted that these young lads and lasses also would be able in time to carry on his great love.

Each Friday evening the Tellwyn Youth Club finished up with an epilogue in the form of a little message, tonight the subject was spoons, for last week, Jane, a keen member asked "Has the Bible anything to say about Love Spoons?" "Well" replied Olwen "I do not think so, but spoons are spoken off, by next week we will have a hunt and tell you all about it"

So now here we are at "Next week" and Jane with the others were looking forward to hearing all about spoons.

Trefor began " The word Spoon is only mentioned once in Numbers 7:14, but spoons plural are often spoken about, it happened when Moses was setting up the tabernacle one person donated among other offerings a spoon, it was a huge one, 10shekels, not only that but it was full of incense, now you ask what is incense?" Olwen took over here "Does anyone know?" silence reigned, "Here is a very useful tool one learn early in life to use, strangely filled with a powder now this was called incense, well we read of how a Wise Man brought Jesus at Bethlehem Myrrh now this an incense, in the Temple they heated the spoon and the perfume given off, ascended heavenwards to God and this was so pleasing to Him. This was His plan for the Children of Israel.

Trefor came in with his part "How does this apply to us today" he asked the youngsters, "Are you a useful tool to be used in His service?" and in doing so surrounding yourself and others with a sweet smelling vapour of love and peace, love for Jesus and a peace beyond all measure. God’s Love Spoon is in Your hand, however you do need to fill it with the incense – this we can receive when we give our lives right into Jesus care, allowing Him to guide you through good, bad and when you think all things are going fine, do not forget to thank our God for those good and peasant sections of our daily light.

There was some murmurs among the youngsters as they thought about all Trefor had said.

Trefor himself hoped that what he had said would find a place in at least one heart.

So the evening passed, the young folk had a great time, not only with their craftwork plus the rest of the fun time but also in their spiritual work.

Trefor and Olwen went home to that cottage on the Welsh Hillside, hoping and praying that the Good Lord had used them tonight.

 The Love Spoon meant such a wonderful lot to them both but greater still was Jesus and the thought of His Incense of Love, their love for each other brought about by a Love Spoon was wonderful but far more marvellous was their love for Jesus and His great love, so great He gave Himself for them.

It might be good to note here that our loving pair’s own spoon had pride of place above the fireplace and was dusted everyday.

Amazing what a piece of God’s own tree can bring about.