Countertops & Couches

It was the fourth time in one month our kiddos ran smack into the kitchen island. Knocking them off their feet, tears, boo-boo’s, bumps. The works. Now this is the only place they’ve ever called home. This home hasn’t recently lived through an interior renovation. This island is not new to our home. This island has been there from the get-go. The island placement has not changed. The kids have lived in this home their entire lives. They haven’t become more reckless or careless. They haven’t recently developed vision problems. But they are getting hurt. They’ve never had a problem with this until now. So what’s going on? Why? Why four times in one month?! This is odd. 

Informally taking this problem through the Scientific Method… The stationary, foundational, central pieces of this home and the kids’ own developments have been the constants, what’s the variable?! Mmmm! Yes, the couch! While we’ve always had this couch, the couch has never sat in that spot of the home before. This couch has been part of our life, and is a good thing, but it’s never been placed there before. It’s never been that close to the island. Because of this improper placement, a ripple effect occurs…. the kids’ depth perceptions rounding the corner in our open concept home are off. An object that should not be there is there. An object that is too close. An object that is causing them to fall and get hurt.

And then He spoke.

What things in your life aren’t supposed to be there in that place? What things have you rearranged and allowed to get too close? What things need to be rearranged? Moved back to their proper position? What things do you need to push back where they belong? Maybe what things do you need to get rid off entirely? What are the foundational, central, unchangeable “fixtures” in your “home” and what are the moveable, rearrangeable, flexible “furniture” pieces?

An even deeper thought…

The thing that was in the wrong place… is not the thing they were running into.

But this improperly aligned thing might be causing us to lose depth perception and hurt ourselves on the stationary, foundational, central good islands in our lives. Move the moveable pieces of furniture back where they belong, or get rid of them entirely if need be, and I bet you’ll find your depth perception again and round that corner safely!

• • •

scroll for more thoughts for digging deeper, imagery to supplement these thoughts, and comment box for anyone with words to engage!

Words for Digging Deeper

“The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14 NIV

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Philippians 3:13 NIV

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NIV

“But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 ESV

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24 NIV