REMODEL ~ DAY 13

Tonight we were beginning dinner, sitting at our little table in our front bedroom/kitchen/living room, when I realized I forgot to put out the olives and salad dressing. Luckily, all I had to do was swivel to the left, open the fridge, grab the olives and ranch dressing, close the door and we were all set! Reminds us of Rod’s old single student dorm room back in… well, back in the day. 
To give you a picture of this new living space: the TV. is on top of the chest of drawers, three feet from the table. There is a recliner beside the fridge and right in front of the queen sized bed that always lives in this room. There is another bureau which now serves as home to a small microwave and the toaster. Oh, and there is a small bookshelf that used to live in the living room, but now it houses cereal, paper plates and forks, peanuts, cookies, crackers, baggies, soup, dried cherries, duct tape and ice cream cones. I can also see some paper towels, our Yahtzee game, and some Bisquick (which really seems funny to me because I can’t think of a thing I could make with Bisquick without an oven!).
Suddenly, today I realized that it isn’t only college students who live in cramped quarters like this. Many large families live in small apartments. Military personnel put up with horrible living conditions. And seniors in our society nearly all wind up in small living environments. Within the past three years Rod has lost both of his parents. His father died at age 94, his mother at 92. As they aged, Mary and Francis moved from a spacious, comfortable home to a two-bedroom apartment, then to a one-bedroom apartment. Each time they moved, they were required to downsize their personal possessions. It became clear in the process that their treasure was one other, not their things. Ironically, the few glass plates we are using these two months during our remodel are the very plates they used in their last apartment together. I feel such admiration as I consider their graciousness during those times they were forced to relinquish so much that they had worked so hard to acquire.
Lord, thank you for reminding me of the incredible blessing we are experiencing in this exciting time of our lives. Thank you for reminding me that it is all temporary, and that You will be sufficient for us, no matter where we eventually end up spending our time on this earth. What an amazing fact to know that you are preparing a true mansion for us in your eternal home. We love you, Lord.