Open The Door, Find the Surprise

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."   ... Psalm 37:4

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So there Tom and I were on Saturday at an estate sale inside another oh-so-vintage house filled with original, bought-when-they-came-out items from mostly the 1930's, 40's and 50's and there I was trying not to covet the whole shebang. 

Oh dear.

Most likely this (tired ol') house had belonged to at least two generations: perhaps a son or daughter married back in the 50's and they just remained there, taking it over when the parents eventually died. An 'apartment' had been made upstairs--in the kitchen area, the appliances, table, hoosier cabinet, etc. all dated from even before the 1950's and in the center was one of those large linoleum rugs probably from the 20's. The closets in both big rooms upstairs had original wallpaper from most likely the 1930's, the bedroom set was from the 40's and ------ 

---oooh. Yet one more house where Time appeared to have stopped like an old clock.

I nearly collapsed from all the yearning. 

I won't even describe the downstairs and the basement, but rather,  what I repeated over and over to myself as I stepped into each room, trance-like. I told myself, firmly, "Debra, remember what you wrote in your blog! 'I'm thankful for my house and rather than desire a better one, seek to make your house better.'"

Over and over and over. Through all 3 whisked-me-back-in-Time floors of that house I whispered that. And even out to the car. Gah. What a test.

And you know? I think God rewarded me for switching those gears inside my head (for trying, anyway) because look what He 'gave me' afterward at a church rummage sale:

Oh wow. I'd been on my way out of the huge, overcrowded gymnasium (got that fluttery, too-many-people-too-much-stuff feeling again) when my eyes spied that. Well, funny how I instantly felt fine!

I'd been wanting a new painting for our kitchen and I just knew that one (for a mere $5) would be perfect.

I'd read that a painting can change the whole atmosphere of a room and gee, that's true. And don't tell anyone I said this, but this picture seems so alive. As though it's a window, not a painting: I watch these women and almost swear I see them move and hear them chatting.

Really.

Lesson relearned: Avoid the tug of war, Debra. Want what God wants for you, keep your heart grateful, and a door will open to surprises. Go through rather than try to go around. And Grace just may help you redecorate your house way better than you ever could, alone.

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When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.

    Author: C.S. Lewis



All our discontents about what we want appear to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.
- Daniel Defoe








    

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