Our family is now into week three of a six week renovation project to combine our kitchen and dining room into one more functional room. The plan includes ripping out everything (and I mean everything) and rebuilding our new, larger room. Gone are the old cabinets, old appliances and old floor. Slowly, new floor and cabinets are replacing the older versions. New appliances arrived last week and await their turn to be positioned in the new kitchen area.
Even though it’s only been three weeks, as we walked across splintery wood planks, we groused about our “primitive” conditions…imagine, we had to walk downstairs for water and didn’t have a stove to cook on!
Watching the renovations unfold, it was amazing to watch how quickly the old, worn-out cabinets, flooring and appliances were removed. It only took one day for the rooms to be gutted and absolutely bare. Since day two of our project, the progress has been painfully slow. Many days have been spent fixing “behind the wall” problems. Things like replacing wood, plumbing, electrical wiring and vents have moved at a snail’s pace. Just last week, after a few weeks, the beautiful new flooring was installed. Finally, we see some progress for the big investment we are making.
As I think about our hearts, they seem much the same. When we struggle with sin, God’s grace can do a miraculous “clearing out” of the garbage in our lives in minutes or seconds. But, then starts the hard work. Some work isn’t even observable by others because it is “under the surface”. This type of work takes great effort and much time before we begin to feel the results of the rehabbing of our hearts. But with God’s grace, our hard work and the needed endurance, the results are beautiful!
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2 comments:
Diane,
What a great analogy! We too have been remodeling, We are doing the work ourselves and it has occurred to me that is a very slow and frustrating process. The only thing we had someone else do for us was lay ceramic tile in the kitchen and it went so much more smoothly than if my husband and I had done it. No one was injured, no bones were broken, no trips to the ER were needed. We let someone else be in control and take charge and it totally took the pressure off of us! I guess it's the same with God. When we surrender and admit our incapabilities and just allow someone that knows what they are doing to do it, how much easier life is. Thanks again for expressing it so well!
Carol
Diane - GREAT metaphor! Love it! You are living fully in the present and noticing God in it. that's awesome...keep up the good writing and hang in there with the kitchen remodel. Just as we will be in full glory one day - your kitchen will be full of glory too, soon - then you'll be able to cook on a stove again! :0) deAnn
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