The Hammer Story
By Wayne Koch (Pop Pop)
Dedicated to my grandson
Here is a story that I told my grandson when trying to get him to go to sleep. It began as a much simpler version, but over time it grew — and now reflects my own life and how God has shown Himself to me.
The Story
Once upon a time there was a hammer. Now, this hammer was a very special hammer. Its Creator gave it a brain. It could choose what project to work on and who would use it to build the project. There was just one problem: it often bent nails.
At first, Hammer chose easy projects — step stools, tables, birdhouses, and treehouses. When it came to treehouses, he chose only the simplest ones or only wanted to do the ladder. As for who would use him, he would choose just anyone.
Over time, he saw some of his projects turn out pretty good, some just so-so, and others really bad. When he bent a nail, the person using him would usually just bend the nail the rest of the way over to the surface of the wood. Some tried to straighten the nail before driving it in, but it often bent again. They would get mad and hammer it flat.
Hammer felt bad that he bent nails all the time, but he couldn’t help it. And the people he chose were all kinds. Some were mean to him. They would say things like, “You silly hammer. How did you ever become a hammer in the first place? You are always bending nails!” Some even told others to say “No” if Hammer wanted them for a project.
There was one guy known as Old Scratch who was always trying to get Hammer to choose him. Old Scratch seemed okay, and Hammer ended up choosing him a lot. The projects appeared to turn out pretty good — at least on the surface. Hammer didn’t notice that underneath, they were worse than all the rest.
There were a few who were kind to Hammer. A couple of them told him about the Creator’s Son — how He always built beautiful and very strong things. They just knew the Son could help Hammer.
One day, Hammer decided to go to the Creator and ask if His Son could help him with his problem of bending nails. The Creator said, “Yes, I know about your problem bending nails, and my Son will be more than happy to help you. He has been waiting all these years for you to come. But you will have to give up your ways, your desires, and your projects, and allow Him to use you for His.”
Hammer was startled. How did the Creator know he bent nails?
After some thought, Hammer believed the Creator’s Son could help him. So he went to the Son and said, “I believe that you can help me. You see, I have a tendency to bend nails. Will you please use me for your projects?” The Son replied, “I have been waiting for you to come. I know about your problem, and I will help you.”
Again, Hammer was shocked that the Son knew all about his problem — but he was happy the Son wanted to use him.
Time after time, Hammer saw that the Son’s projects always turned out beautiful and strong. At first he was happy to be chosen, but then he noticed something: he was still bending nails. He thought the Son would fix him so that he wouldn’t bend nails anymore.
Hammer grew sad. When the Son came to start the next project, Hammer refused. The Son was grieved but allowed him to choose. Again and again, the Son returned for each new project, but Hammer always refused.
Hammer drifted back to his old ways — choosing his own projects and letting anyone use him. Old Scratch was sneaky and often talked Hammer into picking him. Hammer didn’t understand why Old Scratch wanted to be chosen so badly.
Eventually, Hammer saw the truth. When Old Scratch was involved, the projects only looked good. Underneath, they were weak, ugly, and full of bent nails. Even the slightest storm could blow them down. And Hammer discovered that Old Scratch was going to the Creator and saying terrible things about him.
Hammer was depressed. He remembered how beautiful the Son’s projects were. He was miserable. “Why did I ever leave Him?” he thought. “He was always patient with me. I loved being used in His projects. Maybe if I go back and ask forgiveness, He will take me back.” But he couldn’t think of a single reason the Son would want him again.
Finally, Hammer decided to try.
While he was still on his way, the Son saw him and ran to greet him. He was overjoyed that Hammer had returned. Before Hammer could say a word, the Son was already talking about His next project and how He wanted Hammer for it.
Hammer was overwhelmed with gratitude. The Son made him feel special.
As always, the Son’s projects turned out beautiful and strong. Hammer never saw any bent nails, even though he still bent them. He began paying attention to how the Son worked. When Hammer bent a nail, the Son would say it was okay. He would patiently straighten it with Hammer’s claw and drive it true. Sometimes the nail bent again. The Son never got angry. He would say something funny, and they would laugh together. Then He would calmly pull out the bent nail and replace it with a new one.
Hammer was extremely happy being used in the Son’s projects. When he thought about leaving before, he couldn’t understand why he ever did. And he noticed something else: he was bending fewer and fewer nails. It felt as though the Son was becoming part of him.
The Meaning
This story is a lot like us and Jesus, God’s Son.
Jesus has many projects, and when we ask Him to use us, we begin to see His beautiful work. His projects are people. He helps them see how much His Father loves and cares for them.
The more we allow Him to use us, the more we see how much the Father loves and cares for us. We experience joy and peace beyond our understanding — in a way we’ve never known before.
Psalm 8:3–9
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
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