While shopping in Hobby Lobby, I saw this plaque.
And it hit home with me.
I Now Have What I
Prayed For!
When hubby and I married, we spent the first seventeen years
living in church owned homes. The first two houses, or parsonages as they are called,
were furnished with sofas, tables, and beds from parishioners. All items were
cast off from various people and no longer wanted.
A few items weren’t too bad, but they weren’t my choice, and
none matched. These furnishings were a mishmash of necessary pieces.
We outgrew the second parsonage when two of our daughters
were born. The house had one tiny closet for four people. I often felt like a
sardine stuffed into a small can.
Frustration became a daily emotion.
The flock expected me to keep everything clean and look new,
and I did what I could. We ordered a beige metal closet from the Sears Catalogue
and placed it in the bedroom. It was not pretty, but it was functional.
The time came when we needed a new kitchen table. I was
elated! “Now I can choose something I like.” I said to hubby. Nope! Not to be.
A man found a table in a used furniture store, bought it, and delivered it to
the parsonage. It was actually nice, and I liked it. But my point? I didn’t get
the chance to shop and select.
I prayed for the day I’d be able to have my own home with my
personal choices of furniture.
Our first owned home came seventeen years after marriage,
and we are currently in our fourth one. Today I have a beautiful home with my
selections! We have lived in four
parsonages owned by churches and four we bought.
I’m thankful God heard my prayers of long ago. He told me to
wait. He said it would happen, but I didn’t believe Him! I thought I was
destined to never have beautiful things from my personal selection.
I don’t know why He times events the way He does, but I know
the waiting from all the yesterdays made me more appreciative of today.