That is a well-known saying I have heard many times. I had many doors close behind me over the years, especially when looking for our dream home. It never really bothered me, because I didn’t want to settle for second best.
We had an appointment that was just another place to see on our journey of house hunters. We went anticipating nothing. Stepping into the house, was a little scary because it needed lots more work then I wanted to even think about, but it had so much potential. We had a few priorities in purchasing our house, high ceilings at least nine feet and character with something unique. It had the high ceilings throughout the house and beautiful woodwork in the parlor. The door trim was unique, especially for a farmhouse. What amazed me, the living room was green, and the front porch had the perfect burgundy color tile that matched my rug. I thought it was sort of strange that it had the perfect colors for my dilemma. It made me smile, even though I knew everything needed to be replaced.
I had a different feeling about the place after leaving the house, a little hopeful. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny August day, so walking around the property was a delight. My spirit was lifted even with the broken down mess. There was a moment as the men were talking that I was gazing and daydreaming, taking in the whole view. It was inviting, peaceful, quiet. We explored the rest of the buildings on the farm and was told by the realtor that the buildings have no value, they all needed to be torn down. The purchase price was the value of the land.
At one time when the realtor was not looking, I did a happy dance. Yes, I really did a happy dance. I think it was the doors in this house. I loved the doors. Even with the overwhelming work, something inside of me just sang, this is the day Naomi. This is it! This is the day you have been waiting for. A couple of times I would ask Hubby, “Do the buildings really need to be torn down? Can’t they be restored?” He would whisper to me. “I’m sure they can.” Remember Hubby and I have looked at houses for years and when he was without a job, he took a course on Home Inspection for Certification, so he knew what it would take to restore the four buildings.
Finally, after 14 years, both Hubby and I agreed on a house. Wait! Not just a house, but a farm with four other buildings? Really? We bought the place about an hour after we looked at the farm. We were the new owners of an old rundown farm. The purchase of the farm was so fast that it was like a miracle. It’s unbelievable, but we never had second thoughts or regrets. I had thoughts that it was way too much work, but Hubby was ready for the challenge.
After all the excitement of the purchase, my mind was in a whirlwind with all the thoughts of planning, restoring, and decorating that the thought of the two green sofas that didn’t match my burgundy and blue Karastan rug didn’t matter anymore. The discouragement was gone. Just like that. All gone!
God knew all along what He was doing, and I was just so hung up with the decorating disaster. Would God even care what color my sofa and rug would be? I don’t think God cared about the colors, but I think God wanted to show us a miracle and that He was giving us this place.
If you think this is the end of the story, you are in for a big surprise. Trust me we were also in for a big surprise.
“Sometimes our disappointments in life can become God’s appointments, so don’t let closed doors bother you. The things we think of as failures and problems can often end up being blessings in disguise.” David Dykes
