A Tale of Two Couches
Hey friends, settle in while I tell you a story about two couches.
Photo by Chelsey Noelle Photography
The first couch was loved and appreciated for what it brought to its home. This couch was a provision for its family during its time of need. (The family needed a place to sit in the living room and with a house full of toddlers and tight budget, they needed it to be cheap. Hello $400 couch.) On many mornings and evenings the family gathered on this couch. Whether reading, watching television, eating, or just talking, this couch was the gathering place of the family. (In theory, the family gathered at the dinner table, but since the youngest members of the family couldn't jump on it, they preferred the couch.) One morning in particular, as the mother nursed her tiny babe on this couch, the loving and devoted husband and father sat down to talk with her before he went away to work. After they talked, he got up to prepare to leave and as he rose, something else stayed. Two very bright quarter sized orange spots. (Now seems to be an appropriate time to mention that the couch was white.) In the father's hurry of working hard for job and family the previous day, he had forgotten to put back an orange clicker expo marker, and instead, he left it in his back pocket. At some point this marker had gotten 'clicked' and proceeded to leak onto this sweet couch while the loving husband talked with his wife. This wasn't the first sign of the family's love to show on the cushions of this couch. There were other stains from accidental spills of drinks that had been lovingly poured for the precious children who graced the couch with their presence. There was lots of pilling from the many times the family paused there during their days full of life and love. This couch was loved and was valuable to this family.
The second couch was just a place holder for the couch that the family wanted to one day add to its home. This couch was the cheapest couch they could find during a season when money was tight. This couch had a lot of wear and tear from the rambunctious members of it's family and even from the day after day use of the calmer members of the family. One morning in particular as the mother sat on the couch (which was starting to get uncomfortable from all the use) to nurse her newborn infant yet again, the frazzled father sat down, for the first time all morning, to talk with her before he went away to work. After they talked, he got up to prepare to leave and as he rose, something else stayed. Two very bright quarter sized orange spots. In the craziness of life the day before, the father had forgotten to put back an orange clicker expo marker, and instead, he left it in his pocket. At some point this marker had gotten 'clicked' and proceeded to leak onto this already stained and getting uncomfy couch. This wasn't such a big deal because the family was counting down the days until they moved and could purchase another couch that would hopefully hold up better. (Let's let the family enjoy their ignorance.) Plus, there were already other stains from the crazy kids and the fabric was starting to get really worn. This couch was a reminder of what the family wished they could have.
If you haven't figured it out yet, these two couches are actually the same couch, and these two families are the same family. The story, however, was told with a different narrative. Honestly, I resonate with both stories. (Well, obviously, because it's my couch and my family that the story is about, and yes...it's true. And no...we can't get the stain out. We've tried a lot of googling and a whole. lot. of. scrubbing. But it is lighter thankfully.) My initial reaction was the narrative in the second story.
But here's the fruit of that narrative:
Frustration
Bitterness
Covetousness
Discouragement
Ungratefulness
Today, however, I cleaned the couch with my boys, using our small upholstery cleaner (the only thing that's kept this couch presentable for the past year and a half). As I sat there cleaning the cushions, and constantly noticing those orange spots, there was a moment when the narrative changed for me, and it became like that of the first story.
Here's the fruit of that narrative:
Lightheartedness
Forgiveness
Contentedness
Affection
Gratefulness
Dear friends, I know what it's like to have things about your home or your furniture that you don't like. It's no fun, and if we aren't careful, it can be all consuming and produce in us a constant desire to want more and to want something better. Don't get me wrong, it's very much okay to pursue bettering your home for the sake of your family and your own well being, and even comfort, I think. However, discontentedness and covetousness are beasts that will never be satisfied. If you give in to this way of thinking, you will always be left wanting more and wanting better.
So, here is a very long, roundabout way of reminding you that your home, and what it's filled with (both the furniture and the people), are gifts. They are gifts that have been given to you, and if you choose the wrong narrative, you will miss them. Which narrative will you choose today?
And for your viewing pleasure, the orange spots.
