Some years ago there lived and
worked in Italy a great artist in mosaics. His skill was wonderful With bits of
glass and stones he could produce the most striking works of art, works that
were valued at thousands of dollars.

In his workshop was a poor
little boy whose business it was to clean up the floor and tidy up the room
after the day’s work was done. He was a quiet little fellow and always did his
work well. That was all the artist knew about him. One day he came to his
master and asked timidly, "Please, master, may I have for my own the bits
of glass you throw on the floor?" "Why, yes," said the artist,
"the bits are good for nothing. Do as you please with them."

Day after day the child might
have been seen studying the broken pieces on the floor, laying some on one
side, and throwing others away. He was a faithful little servant, and year by
year went by and saw him still in the workshop.

One day his master entered a
storeroom little used and in looking around came upon a piece of work carefully
hidden behind the rubbish. He brought it to light and to his surprise found it
to be a noble work of art nearly finished. He gazed at it in speechless amazement.
"What great artist can have hidden his work in my study?" he cried.
At that moment the young servant entered the door. He stopped short on seeing
his master, and when he saw the work in his hand, deep dye flushed his face.
"What is this?" cried the artist. ‘Tell me what great artist has
hidden this masterpiece here!" "Oh, master," faltered the
astonished boy, "it is only my poor work. You know you said I might have
the broken bits you threw away." The child with an artist’s soul had
gathered up the fragments and patiently wrought them into a wonderful work of
art.

Do you catch the hint? Gather up
the bits of time and opportunity lying around and patiently work out your life
mosaic—a masterpiece by the grace of God. God does not give many of us great
things to do; but it is the odds and ends of everyday life which He sets us to
pick up and make morally beautiful and glorious. "Gather up the fragments
. . . that nothing be lost" (John 6:12).

Are we
doing it day by day? When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give
an account of what we did with our life here, what answer shall we be able to
give if He asks us:"How many baskets of fragments took YE up?" (Mark
8:20).