All the great memories of the first house Cathy and I owned are because we took another look. We ended up having the house for over 8 years, the second longest period we’ve ever lived anywhere. We brought TJ and Will home from the hospital to this house after they were born. We celebrated Easters, Christmases, birthdays, and gatherings with family, friends, and students in this house. But we only lived there because we took another look.
After returning from overseas, Cathy and I had started thinking of buying a house. One weekend my parents were visiting. We decided to take them with us on a walk and stop by a couple of open houses. They knew a lot more about owning a home than we did. This was one of the houses we went by.
After returning from overseas, Cathy and I had started thinking of buying a house. One weekend my parents were visiting. We decided to take them with us on a walk and stop by a couple of open houses. They knew a lot more about owning a home than we did. This was one of the houses we went by.
I’m not the only one who started singing “Little Pink Houses” by John Cougar (Mellencamp), am I?
When we walked up to the house, my mom asked what we thought of it. I didn’t have a strong positive feeling about the house, but Cathy said she wouldn’t want to have a pink house. And it did look small. She wasn’t sure it was worth going in. My mom said it could be whatever color we wanted if it was ours. Why not see the inside before ruling it out? She thought it had potential.
When we went inside, we saw dated carpet, more pink, no door on the bathroom, and a list of other minor issues. It also had lots of sunlight, a sunporch, and a back deck. The basement was unfinished but the size of the full house. My dad found a place to pull back a bit of carpet and discovered beautiful hardwood flooring. My mom and dad were great at fixing up houses and they kept telling us things we could do with this little pink house. Before long, Cathy and I were both excited about the possibilities.
We ended up putting an offer on the house. I still can’t believe we got the home we lived in and loved for 8 years for the price we did. It wasn't gray for long! We put a bit work into that house. Our parents helped us with that too. We will never regret having and working on the little pink house.
Cathy and I like this story because it reminds us that it can be worth it to take another look. And it is helpful considering things through the eyes of those wiser than us.
It is so easy to make quick decisions based on our emotions. It is easier to hear voices that are loud, not necessarily wise. Surface beauty is easier to see than looking for the potential in people and situations that might take a bit of effort to find and develop.
For Christians, the eyes we want to see with and the voice we want to listen to belong to Jesus. Jesus won’t yell at us or force us to do anything. But He may encourage us to take another look at the people, relationships, and circumstances in our life. And He may help us see the good in them we don’t see.
Cathy and I like this story because it reminds us that it can be worth it to take another look. And it is helpful considering things through the eyes of those wiser than us.
It is so easy to make quick decisions based on our emotions. It is easier to hear voices that are loud, not necessarily wise. Surface beauty is easier to see than looking for the potential in people and situations that might take a bit of effort to find and develop.
For Christians, the eyes we want to see with and the voice we want to listen to belong to Jesus. Jesus won’t yell at us or force us to do anything. But He may encourage us to take another look at the people, relationships, and circumstances in our life. And He may help us see the good in them we don’t see.
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