Saturday, May 3, 2014

It's Only A Couch

We shop for a couch. 
I just about come unglued. 
There are so many choices. 
Don't let the fabric bother you, she says.
You can have it in any fabric you want. 
Like the fabric becomes the end all?
It's only a couch. 
Yet I am paralyzed. 
So many choices. 
It's only a couch. 
Maybe ours really isn't that bad, I start to think.
The frame broke years ago. So there is a wee bit of a sag. 
Years ago, as well, the seams separated after the buttons popped off. 
Stuffing spills all over clothes and intertwines with your hair. 
The metal springs are exposed.
Yet, still usable.
These couches were made to last. Workmanship honored.
Quality instilled in the designers.
So I bought a nice couch cover. 
I have extended it's life. 
Isn't that what a farmer's wife does?

But someone wants to bless us with a new couch. 

I have had this one all my married life.
Bought used, of course, from a neighbor; with the help of my mother in law.
She always found a deal. My Sister in law has this knack too.
She has found a few couches that would be good choices.
But I hem and haw. 
Unlike others, parting with anything, is difficult for me. 
This couch holds the memories of my mom and all our children.


They were sick and happy on this couch. 
They watched Barney, Tele tubbies and Psalty snuggled into the cushions. 
We've had serious discussions and heart to hearts.
Brawls comparable to a bar room all out, have taken place, on the couch.
After tubbies we have gathered blankets and relaxed in the comfort. 
Chelsea rested on the couch after her wisdom teeth. 
I recovered from a C-section with Elijah.
I nursed Clarissa and all my babies in the wee hours of the morning on that couch. 
I called the doctor while sitting on that couch in Labor with Cedric. 
Countless babies have napped in the comfort of that couch. 
Endless youth have been found many a night hearing God's word told,
watching a movie or playing x-box. 
So to dispose of it seems a betrayal. 
My boy sat on that couch.



Years of evening devotions happened on that couch.
Night after night, year after year, Gary would read God's word, poured into the souls of children.
Hope and joy passed through the ages.
The truth that Elijah embraced and now with full assurance resides with the King of Kings. 
Our grandchild has now enjoyed the comfort of this couch.



Change is hard for me. Can you tell?
It's only a couch.
But it's a purchase.
We don't take those lightly.
There are many others that would love to have this couch, even with it's age.
So, stay tuned for the saga of the couch.
Will a couch purchase prevail?

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; 
the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

It's an act of love someone wants to bestow.
This is still hard.
Listening to this song right now. .
Blessed.

We bring the Kingdom Come.
With every act of love,
Jesus help us carry you, 
Alive in us your light shines through. 






2 comments:

  1. Our neighbors are getting a new deck. Yesterday morning we watched them take away the old wood and we talked about how all things are deteriorating--except for our inward selves which are being renewed day by day. Emma shared what she had just read the night before: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Praying that you'll fix your eyes on the eternal things, even as you trade out the old couch. Your heart will always hold the memories, my dear friend!

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  2. Right. So why get a new couch. . . ? Why spend money on anything of earthly value? It's not the eternal. that is the struggle. It is the day to day. . .

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