Sometimes we forget from whence we came.
Recently, I sold the building that housed my business, causing me to take the building back to it's original state of being. Well...almost. I didn't take the flooring up, nor did I de-paint it, or take the columns down...or knock the walls down from the new room I had added. I didn't reverse the bathroom and the hall either.
I suppose actually all I did was remove everything, but what I started with...after remodeling the old place. The floor was falling through in one area at that time. Actually had a hole in it. The decoration was simply horrendous; nothing matched, and the bathroom actually opened up into the waiting area. It was tiny...it was gross. I don't suppose I could do the description of the hall, justice. There were painted shelves...pink (painted many times over), an old sink with a huge paint bucket sitting in it...very gross. The place was just nasty...yet I could see the possibility of beauty.
My husband, always allowing me to be me, said "yes" we could venture into this...if that's what I wanted. It was. Never allowing "grass to grow under my feet", I/we, began the journey of creating beauty from ashes. That's what God did, ya know...with us! And because we were created with His creativity, we have that ability to create beauty also. It all happened within a few short weeks.
Our handy man friend got right on the design I drew up for him. Repairing the floor had to be first...right after the tearing down and clearing out of old, yucky stuff that had it's own odor. Add a room, enclose a room, install round pillars, new sheet-rock, enclose and increase the size of the bathroom, and make it to open up in the hall...not the waiting area! Make the hall wider by taking out the shelving, and create a place for a washer/dryer stack...it's own room. Sweet! Paint the siding and eves a difference color, making them more pleasing to look at. Texture the walls and lay the ceramic tile...now it was time for my touch...right after my husband installed new shelving in my new office area, and carried in my beautiful Grecian Lady water fountain (with help, of course). :) After designing a work station for two, my cabinet maker got busy. It was simply beautiful! There was plenty of storage in the design and the large mirrors really opened up the place...reflecting the fountain and very large mirror on the opposite wall. The place looked twice, if not three times as big, as it actually was. We needed a check-out counter to match, so my brother-in-law created one! Beautiful! Perfect for the computer and it's data base of clients, retail, and contact numbers for manufacturers and their reps. Twinkle lights strung over grape vines in just the right places, made for a place that even I could relax, at the end of very busy days. It was a haven for me...
Several up-dates have happened since that time...new black awnings out front with round columns at the edge of rounded steps...awnings at the back and side windows...new hand-made wooden railings running down the sides of the back steps...a beautiful wooden fence that encased my exposed air-conditioner in the back...two large (and gorgeous) Grecian urns filled with cork-screw Juniper trees for the front entry..and finally a new roof...the look was becoming complete.
It was a beautiful journey, as I pondered the next move in making it look the absolute best it could look. I worked long hours. During the day, I worked my day job...at night, I was creating the new look in the new place...preparing for the day I would move into my new location. A place where people could come and relax, as they were being pampered. Even the wait (when there was one) was peaceful. The water fountain and soothing (mostly instrumental) music, quietly playing in the background gave them a sense of well-being. It was not the normal beauty shop where gossip and drama creates unrest. It was a place where all was well...a place of escape. Without me saying a word, they could feel the calm of the Holy Spirit. The most often quote was, "It's so peaceful in here." Mission accomplished.
I would cry, but no tears come. This was a place that God provided, not only for me, but for those He would send my way, as well. It appears that time has ended. Knowing that the God I serve, never asks me to lay something down, without having something else waiting for me, I can't be sad. Another part of the journey...another trial, possibly...another mountain top experience, possibly. Whatever it is...I am His. Now, THAT makes me cry. Tears of gratitude, of joy, of expectation. He has taken this heap of ashes (my previous life) and given me beauty. He's allowed me the most wonderful experience of touching others lives and them touching mine. He's caused me to see the beauty that can be there...because we were created for beauty.
I feel much like that renewed old building at 1829 North Main Street, in Miami, OK. I'll never forget the talk about it, coming from the businesses sitting on either side of it...as the work progressed on it. When all the foundational stuff was complete, the previous owner walked in and was speechless. He just couldn't believe what it now looked like. You see, anything can be turned into a thing of beauty. And we, as human beings, are not exempt. All it takes is an acknowledgement that the Creator of this Universe and all that is in it, put creativity within us. HIS creativity. He was the One that breathed life into our humanness. And He has left us a hand-book on how to accomplish the best for ourselves and Him. We bring honor to Him, much like our children bring honor to us, when we live in the truth of His Word. We don't have to remain untouched by the Master's Hand. All we have to do is invite Him to do the reconstruction...and He creates a thing of beauty...of peace.
These are the most recent events that have surrounded my life. I am so excited to see what is in store for the next leg of my journey.
As always, you will find me here...in Mary's World.
