Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: EXPECTATION (01/28/21)
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TITLE: Picture Perfect | Previous Challenge Entry
By LINDA GERMAIN
02/04/21 -
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Some people count sheep. Once in a while, I meet insomnia head-on by trying to remember my old addresses. When that doesn't bring sleep, I give up and make a mental list of all fifty states, alphabetically. Many of those places have been personal stomping grounds, at least for a season or so.
Even though I could not form a dream house image in my mind, I always knew that I would recognize it as soon as I saw it. It would be house-love at first sight.
My dad, who was in the realty business, used to tease me about the kinds of rentals I had suffered through that seemed to need me more than I needed them.
Whenever we would pass the most run-down, dirty dump, he never missed the opportunity to try to trigger a giggle.
"Hey, there’s one! All you need are some cute little curtains.”
My expected retort in our silly script was, “Yes, but a little bit of glass in the windows would be nice too!”
He never tired of the pitiful-shack-waiting-for-my-decorating-touch game.
Marriage didn’t change my belief that a home I could not even fathom was out there somewhere. Finally, when our son had just turned two-years-old, we were in a position to make a small down payment on something modest. Of course, in real estate lingo, that generally translates to tiny and cookie-cutter.
As we looked around that lovely mountain town in a beautiful southern state, nothing with a roof and walls spoke to me in a sudden secret code message.
On the last day we had set aside for the search, the realtor hesitantly suggested we check out one more house that a couple of other buyers were considering. A niggling feeling, a still small voice, made my heart beat faster. A new step I could not foresee seemed to be waiting in ambush right around the corner.
At first, we thought we had the wrong address. This place was oozing with undeniable character! We slowly turned into the driveway in the back, and I immediately fell head over heels in love with the most charming, adorable, very sturdy, vintage 1940s rock house! Here, right before my eyes, stood the real-life picture of what had merely been an unformed shadow in my dreams.
The last tenants had left a mess, even trash in the fireplace and ugly shag carpet over the lovely hardwood floors. None of that registered to a woman who knew what she knew! If you could hug a building, I would have wrapped my hungry arms around this one.
Where have you been all my life?
As soon as we walked in the door, the deal was cinched for me. A darling built-in breakfast nook with storage in the seats and placed by a window framed with white inside shutters spoke volumes. That was as far as I needed to go. Like an old Polaroid snapshot, my vague un-picture had taken some time to develop, but now it was suddenly in focus.
That answered prayer memory includes my son’s first day at kindergarten, his piano lessons, ceiling-touching Christmas trees, roaring fires, and sharing Thanksgiving with relatives. After a few years, those memories took a decided turn when we moved to the outskirts of a big city in another state.
The new owners seemed a little bewildered at the closing when I was forced to excuse myself in the middle of signing and bolt for the ladies' room. There was no way to stop the deep, gut-wrenching sobs that had waited quietly as long as they could. Strangers were moving into the only house that had ever been my perfect picture home.
In text-chatting with my grown son tonight, he mentioned his wonderful little boy memories of living there. I confessed that even as age keeps marching on, something tells me there is one more home waiting for me. I’ll know it when I see it.
Hopefully, it’s on earth, but if not, maybe the Lord lets us choose how our heavenly mansions will look. What a blessing that He already has the blueprint and that my heart will leap with joy when I’m truly home at last!
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John 14:2
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
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