Melissa and I have always wanted to have a grand home, one where we could park two cars in the garage, a backyard large enough where the kids could run from one end to the other and would have to catch their breath on the way back, 5 or 6 bedrooms to leisurely house many overnight guests– we love hospitality – a room large enough for a grand piano, and the list goes on. God however gave us a small, charming home right in the heart of town: 3 bedrooms, 1 ½ baths, unfinished basement, and 1-stall garage fit to park a Model T. We moved in 7 years ago and the home needed little repair, some updating, but it was just right for the three of us, including a bubbly one-year old.
As the years passed and a lovely little redhead was added to the family, we started getting the itch for another home. The three bedrooms were just right for us, but we wanted more, again mostly for allowing more “potential” to extend our hospitality. But despite the lack of space, we still opened our home to parties as large as thirty or more. Overnight guests made due with a hideaway, a very comfy couch in the living room – which was nominated for use many times over the hideaway – and whatever spare floor space could be found.
Nonetheless, we made do. Over the past 7 years, I feel He allowed us the time and ability to personalize our home more and more so that we might be content with what we have so graciously received. More importantly we agree that this home offers the ability to serve others more as a result of its location and the lives that we’ve encountered while living here. And now, today, we have an amazing opportunity to take part in the playground makeover at the park just adjacent to us. KaBOOM!™ and our neighborhood association partnered to renovate our historic park in the hopes that kids have a safe place to be active and stay healthy. I am excited more that it helped bring our neighborhood closer and we’ll meet even more people in the process. 80 of the workers came from the neighborhood, 120 from Amway, along with another handful of volunteers. My team built new benches for the basketball court, something the park never had before. Later, Neil (another Amway employee) and I grilled for the 200+ crowd. I think I opened about 30 hotdog packages. Thankfully the grill, my grill, didn’t run out of gas. J
Taken out-of-context, I feel like Shimei who was charged by Solomon to build a house in the city and stay put. “Shimei answered the king, ‘What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.’” (1 Kings 2:38) In context, however, this story doesn’t parallel the reason we are here at all except that when He calls us to stay, I am glad we have obeyed. His purpose outweighs our personal desires. Thankfully, I don’t think I’ll be put to death if we decide to leave like Shimei was.
We have no desire to leave unless we have no choice and are forced to because the house is shaken to the ground when my family arrives in 36 days. The most overnight guests we have had are 5. Beginning June 18, we will surpass that by 6, a total of 15 under one roof.
We. Can’t. Wait!
36 Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.
1 Kings 2:36
36 days!
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