Broken Stuff

If you look closely at many of the items displayed in our house, you will find evidence of damage. Little lines will betray a broken place which has been glued back together. Each of these glued places have a story; a child, grandchild or house guest has bumped, dropped or knocked something over, resulting in a break and subsequent repair. Pulled threads in furniture or carpets tell a tale of a snag, or a game gone wrong. But you know what? We're okay with that. Those are the risks that come with hospitality, and we decided years ago that hospitality is more important than maintaining a museum quality house. Proverbs 14:4 says, "Where thre are no oxen the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of an ox." When Carole and I come to the end of our time here on earth, we aren't hoping that people will say, "I hear they had a beautiful house." We hope they will remember good times they had in our house. We've had a lot of "oxen" in our house and it doesn't always look its best. But there is great strength in the friendships formed in the evenings spent in someone's house. If you don't currently host a small group, consider doing it. It will take a toll on your stuff, but the strength of the friendships formed is a greater reward than the accolades you might receive for having an immaculate house.