Rotten Houses

Last year, my husband and I decided to install new windows and siding on our home.  It was sixty-five years old.  An addition had been added many moons ago, but everything needed to be replaced.  We had kept putting it off….  We signed a contract for the work but decided to remove the siding ourselves to save $$$. 

It was eerie.  As the siding came off, spots were uncovered where windows used to be on the old portion of the house, and the old, old, original siding was underneath that! 

An analogy began to form in my mind of myself and others. 

When reminded of things that happened in my life that I didn’t like to think about, I would “board up the window” so that I wasn’t forced to look out of it anymore.  Of course, I hoped the board would never come off.

As we continued to remove the siding, I noticed some rotten boards here and there.  “Oh great!” I said, “These will need replacing which will add cost.”  Someone replied, “You don’t have to replace those – they will get covered with the new siding.”  Not a good plan.  Again I thought of the emotional wounds we have; “rotten boards” that we don’t think cause damage.  As long as it looks good on the outside….

The contractor began his work.  There was more “rot” than what had been anticipated, in fact, a large portion of one wall needed replacing, then another.  Others thought the porch smelled musty, but we could never smell it.  After the walls were replaced, the smell was gone.  THAT reminded me AGAIN of us refusing to look at our wounds.  Some of us emit such an odor.  As a result, not only do we make unhealthy choices, we can attract others who emit the same odor…

Some spots were so shoddy that in a few years, there would’ve been major damage.  So much so, that the house probably would’ve been abandoned.  (Read what you want into that!)  My husband and I had been in denial as to how bad it really was.

All the work on the house was frustrating and a real pain at times, but it was desperately needed. 

I am SO glad that I allowed God to become my General Contractor.  Having Him use various people to help me remove rotten boards has been painful.  But it was needed…otherwise my whole foundation may have collapsed. 

The house now smells great.  AND you can see clearly out of the windows, which are now letting in the Son.