This winter will be mine and Grant's nine year anniversary.
Kind of weird to say, or type.
Makes me feel border line old. Not really.
This fall we will be welcoming our third baby to bring home from the hospital and with that, comes the need for one thing.
A bigger kitchen table.
The one we had was a beautiful dark wood, a perfect little square.
Just right for the four of us.
But, with Arrow, we will need to squeeze in another seat, and that just wasn't happening with our sweet, five year old table.
So, I saw at a store my dream table. And when I say that, I'm not kidding.
It was the perfect rectangle shape, just big enough for the five of us, plus a couple more if we have company. It was a farm style table. A vintage/rustic look.
A few weeks ago I was at a doctor check up with Raylea and Grant was home keeping Jack. I came home, walked into the back door and what do I see before my eyes???
THE DREAM TABLE!
I stood in shock and slowly walked towards it. Wandering if this was real life...
I stood and looked at it in amazement and then noticed he even purchased the bench that came with it separately. I hugged him. Stood in shock. And finally a tear made it's way into my eye ball.
I was too shocked to cry I think. I'm pretty emotional too.
So, roughly three weekly later, Grant and I started noticing some stains. I took a hot soapy rag and scrubbed them the best I could. Most of it came out, but you can still see a couple spots if you look hard enough.
I did some research online and found out that when you have an organic untreated wood (which is exactly what this table is,) you have to put either an oil on it, or a paste wax which creates a barrier and seals the cracks, which makes for easy clean up and makes it stain resistant.
So, I got in my mom mobile (Grant calls it the man van, but since it's mine, I refer to her as the mom mobile...) and took myself to Lowes this morning. The people who worked there didn't even know they had a product called paste wax, but they found it on their inventory and told me which isle it would be on. $10 later, I walked out of there, holding the can of exactly what will protect my beloved table.
So, you may wander why on earth I felt the need to share such a random story with you...
well, I'm glad you wandered!
Although it was pretty painless for Grant to go get that table for me and set it up, I thought to myself today, that that kitchen table is a lot like salvation.
Salvation is given to us. So was that table, given to me, as a gift.
After Grant gave me that table, it was up to me what center piece I wanted to put on it, if I wanted a table cloth, table runner, place mats, or leave it plain, which is what I did.
But, since I never created a barrier on my table to protect it from getting dirty and stained, that is just what happened!
I read the directions on how to use the paste wax. It looks like I will have to use some elbow grease to get it done, but I am determined to keep my table clean and unspotted the very best I can, because I am so thankful for it!
A simple thought, but are you doing what you can to keep your "kitchen table" clean? Or are stains and crumbs building up to where you can't see how beautiful it originally was.
It takes work, effort and heart for God to keep a "table" (your Christian example, your heart, your life...) clean and unspotted.
Just like it was up to me what I chose to do with my table once I received it, it's the same for you and what you choose to do with God and the gift He freely gave to you.
If you come to my house and see my table clean, you'll surely get the impression that I work to keep it that way and I do so because I care for it.
I know my table is a measly example of God's forgiveness for my sins, but it's a little visual hopefully you'll ponder on today.
Now, go wipe down your table!
ray and jack eating breakfast together
