Driving home from town
today, I was struck by the very many different houses. I saw what looked like a red brick historical
one, a new one with many different roof angles, an octagonal structure, two
story, single story, square, large and spacious, one with many windows, one
with only several windows and even one (a mobile home) which had been stripped
of its metal siding revealing studs and a layer of insulation. It was being used as a dump station. Trash could be seen through the windows. And finally, the house that was run down and
in need of a little TLC (Tender loving care.)
Our
homes are often a reflection of ourselves.
When the yard and surrounding area is tidy, I picture a family that is
also tidy and clean. On the flip side, a
yard that is cluttered with trash makes me wonder what the inside looks
like. Houses also reflect the
personality of its occupants. The color,
if bold and saucy, lends me to believe the occupants probably are too. If the colors are gentle earth tones, I get a feeling of peacefulness.
Does this mean all houses directly reflect
those who live within? No, probably
not. Yards that are perfectly manicured,
with houses that are painted in complimentary colors and completely beautiful
on the outside, can be filled with hate and anger on the inside. The reverse is true, as well. Homes that are beat up and run down may house
occupants that are entirely loving, happy and carefree.
It’s interesting, I
think, to look at a house and wonder about the people inside. I think it’s sad to see an empty house. It looks lonely and lost. It makes me wonder what people think when
they see my house. Do they see happiness
and contentment or sad and lonely, or worse, anger?
Our outer personal
exterior is much the same. When a person
sees me, what do they see? Do they see
an honest portrayal of who I am? Do they
see a friendly, happy person or one that is grumpy and unkind? Or are they not seeing me at all as
everything I portray, is false?
Is my heart “open”
with many windows or locked behind a shell of sadness and despair? Am I bold and saucy with little regard for
another’s feelings—or bold and saucy in the sense of outgoing, playful and lively;
or am I kind and gentle? Am I like the
house with many different angled roofs so I project different things to
different people? Is my life filled with trash for the all world to see, or do I
hide my garbage from the world and expose it to only those closest to me? Am I run down and tired, like the house which
needs a little tender loving care?
While we should be who
we really are with people (as long as it’s not unkind!), God knows not only who
we truly are, but He also knows our motives.
He knows what drives us to work hard, or be honest, courageous or
strong. He knows our weaknesses. And like the house without occupants, he
knows when we are lonely or sad. It
matters not what we try to hide from others, God still knows.
I challenge you this
week, to consider what you project to other people. Does your exterior behavior reflect your
interior---your heart? Or are you hiding
much of what you don’t want the world to see?
Are you filled with pain and anger, or joy and love? If what you see isn’t what you want others to
see, should you consider making changes?
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