17 is my favorite number. I think it was middle school when I learned that, in Hebrew, the number 7 often reflects perfection or complete fulfillment. 17 to me represented a flawed person made right and fulfilled in Christ. It didn't hurt that it was the date of my birth, too (and now it's the jersey number of my favorite quarterback. Go Bills!)
17 is also the number of years I have lived in this home. It seems fitting.
Over 17 years ago, I sold a house in a real estate boom, and could not afford a home closer to the school and church and I was helping to start in Cape Coral. God provided a home in neighboring North Fort Myers - a house that never actually went on the market. It was just sold to me. Because God works that way, but that's a much longer part of the story I will not tell right now.
17 years ago predates meeting my husband. God knew I would need this old house for an immediate family of four after the wedding, a family of five just a year later, and eventually more than enough people to field a baseball game.
This old house has hosted small groups from church, debates, parties, potlucks, family dinners, yard sales, rehearsals, school, injuries, and more.
In this old house, we have celebrated births, marriages, adoptions, and new Christ followers, football games, holidays, and birthdays but mourned miscarriages, deaths, divorces, and loss.
When I moved here, it was a quiet neighborhood consisting mostly of people who had retired down here when the homes were built. Now our children play with the children of neighboring young families.
I have attended the funerals of two of my neighbors, provided meals when others have passed, written a letter of recommendation for a neighbor moving to a new home, and now get to see the children who were raised in these homes raising children of their own.
We have changed the floors, furniture, color, layout, and even built a massive "Fort Witte" that seems like an extension of this old house.
One thing has remained. It was first my prayer, and now our prayer that people would feel the presence of God when they came into this old house. No matter the physical change, the prayer/desire has remained
A stranger recently entered this old house. She told me after a few minutes that she could tell who we were when she came into our home - that we loved deeply and wanted to give more than receive. I told her we had prayed that people would feel God's presence in our home. She said, "That's what it is".
Wherever we live, our home is a gift, graciously provided by God. This old house has been a wonderful blessing to our family and so many others, filled with memories and love. If I have not had you over for a meal in our home, I am so sorry and want to welcome you to the next home, where our prayer remains the same. We can share some stories about what went down for over 17 years in this old house.
No comments:
Post a Comment