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)