The House

To the unknowing eye, everything seemed normal. The two-story gray house stood, looking untouched. And it was so; the house had not been touched. The driveway lay with only a single car parked in the middle of the pavement, so no other car could fit. The mailbox seemed to have become over-stuffed, as if no one had bothered to pick it up. In the backyard was a pool. Inside the massive water hold were dead insects, leaves, sticks, and dirt. All appeared to have grown inside the pool for multiple months, with nothing that disturbed them. Then lay the fire wood. Half of it missing, half thrown aside as if no one cared. This, out of everything, was the most disturbing. The wood was there, left alone, and cold. Next to the wood was placed a grill, man's best friend. But there was leaves inside, and weeds growing up from the sides. This was not a normal house, after all; it was a broken one.

If you passed by this house, you would think nothing of the overly stuffed mail box, or the car parked in the middle of the driveway. But if you were a friend of the people who lived in this house, you would realize it is no longer a home. Inside arose the family. Hair un-brushed, dirt on their clothes, eyes stained with tears. Something was wrong, something was missing. What was it?

The three children wept uncontrollably, with no end it felt. The mother tried to stand tall, because she was the eldest of the family now. Her role now was different then before. The eldest son dried his eyes, and promised his mother he would be the man of the house now. The mother then broke down and cried. Her strength seemed no longer strong enough. For they have been betrayed by the man who they thought they had known.

“God,” the youngest son yelled. “Why did this happen! Why can't you fix it? Please God, I just want a normal family. Please!” He broke down.

The whole family questioned God. But how couldn't you? This could never have been in his plan, could it? The questions still left in the air.

For, he was not the man the mother had married. He was different. This father had grown into a new person before their eyes. How could somebody have done this after so long? Did he not know he had a wife? Did he forget he had 3 children? Did he forget his friends who loved him? Why did he do this? Why, was the question.

The seemingly untouched man returned one day, with a smile on his face. He had no remorse in his eye. Did he not remember what he did to his friends and family? He stood at the door, and asked for the rest of his belongings. And so it was, the man was gone.

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11