What Do You Expect?

I spotted the sign and thought, why not?

An estate sale was in progress and since I found a parking spot on the street, I decided to see what treasures the house held.

As I entered, the women conducting the sale greeted me with a smile and told me, “There’s something in every room.”

The kitchen cupboards held casserole dishes and stemware. Silver pieces covered the dining room table. The pantry shelves contained rows of cookbooks. All were reminders of days gone by, reflections of a household no longer needed.

 

Did the owners move to a senior living residence? Did they expect to leave their belongings behind? Did they think they would stay in this home until their last breath?

The upstairs closet contained only women’s clothing. Had she passed? Or had he died years ago, and she passed? Or were these clothes the woman knew she’d never wear again in her new residence? The wardrobe boasted attractive and stylish clothing of the past; classy and classic. I speculated she used her silver pieces and dressed for fancy dinner parties.  I tried to imagine life once in the home. Now strangers passed through the house, evaluating, considering, picking up treasures, or passing by. Are the children disposing of the property and contents? I had questions, but no answers.

My curiosity kept me moving through the large house. When I entered another bedroom, I paused. Two wedding gowns were hanging on curtain rods on widows. Large gold gift boxes that once held the gowns, rested nearby on the floor. I read the label: “Preserved for a Lifetime of Loveliness”. Did the gowns belong to daughters? Why didn’t they want them? And…have the gowns have lasted longer than the marriages? Was the marriage not preserved for a lifetime? Is that what the brides expected?

Expectations: a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.

We all have expectations. Some are more dramatic than others. They may be dreams, hopes, or common-sense practical anticipation. Some expectations are realized and bring joy and success; other expectations fail and yield disappointments. Some are minor, some serious.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

(Proverbs 13:12 NLT)

Rain keeps us from enjoying a day at the beach.

Writers hope to have an article or book published but they are rejected by editors.

A young woman thinks her boyfriend will propose but he has cold feet and they break-up.

My cheesecake flops when I take it from the oven.

A teen goes out for a sports team and doesn’t make the cut.

A husband dies and retirement dreams are extinguished.

My connecting flight is delayed and I miss most of a reunion.

The deal on a dream house falls through.

A friendship disintegrates.

A diagnosis changes the trajectory of life.

The marriage isn’t preserved for a lifetime.

Expectations come in the form of time, relationships, dreams, emotions, and success.

How do we manage unrealized expectations? What keeps us moving forward in disappointments?

Can you offer words of wisdom and encouragement from your experiences? Join the conversation to guide us. Don’t we want to be preserved for a lifetime of loveliness?

Framing our Pictures…The Treasure of Telling Our Stories Part 2

When we bought our first house, we needed furniture.We were on a tight budget and interested in antiques, so we often went to estate sales. One sale in particular was in an upscale neighborhood. There wasn’t much that would fit our décor, but my husband spotted an old chest in the corner. It would be perfect near our fireplace. The price was right; we bought it, returned home, and carried our bargain into our family room. 

As I dusted and began to polish the surface of the old wooden trunk, I saw black marks. With a little more effort, a printed name emerged.  Who was this person?  I called the local historical society. As information unfolded, I became intrigued with the owner’s biography. It would be quite a prize to local antique collectors.  We merely wanted an old trunk to store wood for our fireplace, but we began to appreciate it on a different level. Somehow, I just couldn't use it for wood storage. It became a coffee table and I stored magazines in it. Once I knew the story behind the trunk, it had a different value.

That’s the way it is with our life stories. We may think they were for just us, or even insignificant, but they have value often unknown that may not surface for years.

Last week we looked at frames for our pictures. What did you find as you turned pages in a photo album?

     Did you see an answer to prayer in a photo of a bride and groom? Would that story encourage a young single person waiting for a mate?

     Did you see perseverance behind a smiling face of one receiving an award? Would that story encourage someone who practices hours to reach a goal?

     Does a photo of a family gathering include stories of traditions?

     Does the photo of a young woman showing her college acceptance letter tell the story of prayer behind a decision?

 

Like my old trunk, photos have stories. Our life stories shape us. Our stories influence others and have value.

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. 
Psalm 145: NLT

Will your stories touch someone? Yes, only if you tell them. Can you start today with a single photo and tell the story behind the photo?

Picture Perfect: The Treasure of Frames

Scrolling through our Facebook News Feed reveals a change of status, a few ads, and a variety of photos. The photos range from vacations, scenic spots, special events, food, babies, humor, links to articles, and selfies.

Our phones provide an instant camera, so taking pictures is convenient. Documenting moments has become easy. We store photos on our phones and perhaps upload to a computer. We may choose to print pictures and arrange in an album.

We take more photos now than in any other time in history but how do we frame them?

Oh yes, we may write a caption on Facebook or place a date on a photo.

Still photos don’t tell a story, but capture one moment. How do we frame our photos to convey the real story?

Frames, as we know them are borders or cases that surround a picture or document. An obsolete definition of frame is to manage.

 How do we surround our photos?
     How do we manage them?  
          How do we frame our pictures?

     Does a photo of a moving van show more than a departure and a destination, but perhaps the faithfulness of God in providing a new job?

     Does a family photo show God’s grace after years of waiting for a baby?

     Does a milestone birthday celebration show the loyalty of friends and love of family through the years?

     Does an adult baptism show the return of a prodigal?

     Does a photo of a trip to the mountains tell about the last Fall shared with someone?

     Does a photo of a tombstone show more than dates but tell the struggle and legacy of immigrants?

Sort through your photos and think about managing your frames and surrounding your pictures. Our frames can encourage others and show the grace and faithfulness of God.

Can you show more than a moment, but manage and frame to tell a story?

Comment and share your discoveries with us.