Better Than a Fireplace…

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In 2016 about the time I first began Content in the Everyday we moved. That was an adventure! Our house sold in a week, we found another place, lost it due to zoning issues, then found this place…Thankfully the new owners of our old house were nice enough to let us stay there until we could get the keys to the new house!

Prior to moving we lived in that house for 14 years. It’s the house that I started Kindergarten in and the house that I graduated in (we actually held my graduation in the living room).

One of the things that we didn’t like about that house was that it didn’t have a fireplace. Daddy had his mind made up. We needed a wood-burning fireplace. There were a couple of times he actually thought about putting one in, but we never did. During the Winter he’d mention regularly that he eventually wanted a wood burner. If we were to ever move the house MUST have a fireplace or at least a place to easily put one in. He was very determined that we get a wood burning fireplace one way or the other. He’d put one in or we’d move and have one.

Aside from more land a wood burning fireplace was at the top  of the list. As a stubborn red head I never understood Dad’s obsession with a fireplace. Growing up we used the furnace and/or space heaters.

To be honest, as long as I was warm, I was happy. I didn’t care.

At one point we ended up getting a fireplace looking heater/entertainment center (that’s now in the Sitting Room/my office). He and Mom always mentioned that although it was nice it wasn’t the same as having a real fireplace. Again, I just didn’t get it. How much different could a real fireplace be? I mean, it sits there and gives off heat, pretty much the same things that the heater did without the risk of the chimney or house burning down.

We moved in November. True to his word he had a wood-burning fireplace insert installed almost immediately. Once we started using it and I was slowly assured that the house wouldn’t burn down while we were sleeping, I actually understood what Daddy meant. I had read the little house books and vividly remembered how the chimney caught fire and almost burned the whole house down…

A real fireplace is SO much better than a little fireplace heater!

There’s a difference that I can’t quite put my finger on. But I now understand what he meant and why he was so determined that we get a real fireplace. Although space heaters are nice (I use one regularly in the Winter and it heats my little work area quite nicely) it just isn’t the same as the real thing.

And I got to thinking. How often do we think that we know better than God? How often do we lack the trust that God’s plan for our lives is far better than our plan? If Daddy wasn’t patient with me, and insistent that a real fireplace is better I can pretty much guarantee you that I wouldn’t have changed. I would still be thinking that fireplace heaters are just as good as the real thing.

But what other (more important areas) do we lack trusting our Father’s plan?

I mentioned above that we lost the first house we put an offer on. We thought that this house was perfect. It was all one level which meant that I didn’t have to worry about falling down the stairs, and Mom and Dad wouldn’t have to worry about downsizing when we moved out. Not to mention that this was the second time that we’d put our house on the market. BUT once we moved here we saw that this house was much better suited for us. It has the character that matches our personalities and décor and has been better than we imagined. And it has TWO fireplaces!

My Dad knew what he was talking about when he kept insisting that a real wood burning fireplace was better than the little heaters. What makes me think that my Heavenly Father isn’t the same way? After all “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Luke 7:11).

Until next time,
Bailey Sue

P.S. January can be a lonely time. The holidays are behind us, it’s dark and sometimes snowy. As a result, it’s easy to forget how loved we are. If you need a reminder check out my book below. It’s available in E-book and paperback.