The Red Door

My son and I were driving home from a lunch/shopping date when we spotted this door leaning up against a tree in someone’s front yard. I turned around for a better look, then hopped out and saw a tiny sticker that read “$25 OBO”. I knew that meant that I could probably talk them down to $20 at least. Thankfully I had a 20 dollar bill left over from our shopping trip. Josiah helped me scrounge up as much change as we could find in the car. I knocked expectantly on the front door, but no one answered. So I left $23.46 on their front porch and happily loaded my new red door into the back of my car.  The door stayed in my garage for a couple days until I had a minute to clean it up. I used Windex and cleaned the whole thing. I made a Pinterest board and started pinning ideas. The possibilities were endless! Would I use chalkboard paint and cover a couple of the panes for leaving sweet notes and writing lists? Would I make a shelf and mount it below the windows? Maybe I could add hooks and turn it into a place to hang things? In the end, I just brought the door in and leaned it against the wall, deciding to decide later what I would do. Before I found the red door, my friend Jen was working on a new art piece for my blank wall. She is a talented photographer and artist and I love her style! She came over, eyed my wall, and started brainstorming a piece that would not only compliment, but be an inspirational focal point. What she came up with is amazing!

The piece is called “Timeless Ballad”. It’s based on Hebrews 13:8, an extremely meaningful verse to me. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

I remember sitting on our small apartment floor as a 21-year-old newlywed. I was sobbing. My dad had recently gone to Heaven after an accident and I was struggling. My new husband spoke calmly and reassuringly as he comforted me. He shared Hebrews 13:8 with me and God spoke to my hurting heart. My Savior. He was the same God He always had been. He was good. Even when I was walking through the valley of the shadow of death. I didn’t have to be afraid, for He was with me every step. Every day.

As I shared this story with Jen, she listened thoughtfully. I also gave her a letter I’d found that was written to my dad when he was 8 years old. It is from his grandmother. It is a happy letter that talks about kittens and ducks. A special treasure.

Two weeks later, Jen brought me the finished piece. She had artistically inserted clocks with no time (Jesus is timeless), the sentimental letter, the words of Hebrews 13:8, and sheet music, all in a field of wildflowers. Very “organic” as she described it. And very symbolic and special to me.  Initially I hung “Timeless Ballad” on the music room wall, but decided it looked better next to the red door. “Timeless Ballad” and the red door are a good pair and a special reminder to me of God’s grace in a difficult time.