We have a really nice shed in our back yard. When we first moved in, it held mostly lawn equipment. Then, when Carylea got a little older, she and her best friend painted it; and I got some left over Berber carpet from a floor installer friend and we turned the little building into a playhouse. I bought an old window at Canton to add ventilation, but it never got installed…so, sadly, the playhouse didn’t get much playing.

After a few years, the bottom of the sides began deteriorating; and I had hoped it would be a “honey-do” project, but it never got “honey-did”. And after the divorce, it took it’s place at the bottom of the list of my priorities. So when my brother announced last Fall that he came face to face with a mouse, it came as no real surprise to me. I simply asked the exterminator to take care of it so I could clean it out for good use again.

What did come as a complete surprise was what I saw the other day when I was standing inside the now empty building, sweeping all the remaining remnants of visitors out…I turned towards the large door and noticed directly to the left of it was a small hole that had been intentionally clawed out of the side of the building. I was stunned to realize that the mice hadn’t entered in via the decayed edges at the base like I had assumed; but they had truly made their own entrance to what must have seemed like a palace…and every childhood book and movie about mice came flooding back to me. Moments later, Mags came in and she noticed the same thing and had a similarly surprised reaction. It was such an unexpected and odd image…and stirred the imagination to the point where we both just laughed about Jerry (of Tom and Jerry cartoons) making himself so at “home” in our shed. But seeing the trash of what was our stored possessions littering the lawn, there was no denying the destruction that the real-life creatures can do.

I haven’t gotten that image out of my head; and when it comes to me, I’m gently reminded:

So often in life, we take our hurts and “lock the door” to our heart in bitterness …and we “claw out” a small door to “control” what we allow in. And although it’s a “knee-jerk reaction” to protect ourself from more pain, it also “protects” us from the very thing we need most…God’s lovingkindness and the ability to forgive and move forward.

All I can think as I see in my mind those two “doors” standing side-by-side is how much we need to learn to TRUST Him. And, especially in those moments of pain and misunderstanding and disappointment that life brings…throw the door to our heart open wide to receive HIM and all that HE has for us. And then there would be no need for the “clawed out” door…that can allow destruction to wreak havoc inside. A heart truly OPEN to Him…what fullness of FREEdom that would bring. 🙂

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NKJV)

“Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22 NKJV)

“O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth; That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and hear me. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 108:1-6, 13 NKJV)

Spent another glorious two days getting a LOT accomplished. Of course, even with getting rid of so much, Mags called me an “organized hoarder”…twit…she really needs to stop watching those darn tv shows. ;-).

But I promised the kids that all this re-organization is as much for them as it is for me–so we can actually get to and use what we have. Soon after, a friend picked Monopoly during a sleepover, and the Littles admitted (to my shock) that they’d never played it before. Then when Brandt passed me, having finished Life and getting out Monopoly, he grinned, “I’m so glad you moved the games into the armoire where we can reach them easier.” …hearing his words made my heart smile. Something so simple, yet so important, was finally marked off my “list”…and it was having the impact I had intended, had hoped for.

So yesterday, I woke them up early to help me clear out the shed. It hasn’t been touched in two years; and my brother had confirmed that there was a mouse in that little house. So the exterminator took care of the visitors; and we took care of tossing out everything that was ruined or no longer wanted. While we worked, Mags told Brandt stories of how Carylea and Kyla painted the shed to be a “playhouse”; and we laughed about the fun that was had on the slip and slide and other unburied treasures. When we were finished, the kids were stunned by the difference in the shed.

And the dust had hardly settled when Mags invited a group of friends to play volleyball and badminton in the front yard last night. Yet again, another smile of success on my face as I turned out the lights…and I was gently reminded:

God has a plan for our lives. Often times, we can “bog it down” with so much of our own “junk”. But when we allow Him to work in us to accomplish all that He has for us, then we can reap the benefits of His work. I know how thrilled I am about “reaping the benefits” of our work around our house…I can only imagine how pleased our Heavenly Father must be when we reap the Blessings that He has in store for us. 🙂

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20, 21 NKJV)

I finished The Hunger Games trilogy. Honestly, it took me a while to get into the first book even though my daughters kept encouraging me to. And I will admit that it is a good read; but I ended it the same way that I began…with the overwhelming thought of how devastating a world without Hope is….and I was gently reminded: I simply cannot imagine my life without the Hope of Trusting in Christ…that there is a place He is preparing for me that is so much better than this; that there is Someone I can turn to when I’m feeling lost or lonely or overwhelmed; that there is Someone who will share my pain because He understands it; and that which He doesn’t rescue me from, He promises to work for my good. I don’t always understand what happens around me; but I know that I can Trust in Him. Having the support of a life partner and family and friends is a wonderful gift; but nothing compares to the Hope I find in Him. Others face the same frailties of life that I do…and they may leave me. But He will never forsake me….and that knowledge brings me Peace that often passes understanding, if you merely look at circumstances. So I can honestly say that I’m very thankful that I read this series, though it seemed so dark and frustrating to me…because of the sweet reminder that my life is not reduced to a struggle to “win”. On the contrary, as a result of His victory, I am victorious…and the Hope I have in Him…makes me only Hunger for more of Him. 🙂

“Now may the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in believing, that you may ABOUND in Hope by the POWER of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NKJV)

(caps mine)