Mi Casa, Tu Casa

Greetings!

Haggai 1: 3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? (NIV Bible)

While growing up, I spent alot of time with my grandmother. Her house was amazing! She had the finest china and exquisite dining room furniture. She was the first person I knew who had wood paneled walls when paneling first was in style. My grandmother was also the first person I knew to have a color television.

I remember seeing her turning the corner of our street with shopping bags from Lord & Taylor in her hand. I remember her mink stole with the actual heads of the minks on it. I know, yuck! But remember this was forty five years ago. No PETA back then.

And when Christmas came? My grandmother gave such gracious gifts to all of her grandchildren that I was convinced that Grandma was rich. That was until one day while I was a teenager. Grandma had retired by then and we used to spend many more days in conversation. She no longer spoke to me like I was a little boy. She spoke to me like the man I was growing into. For some reason, grandma told me how much she earned in her weekly pay check. To say I was shocked was an understatement. How in this world could she have so much but earn so little?

That’s the moment when I learned one of the most valuable lessons in my entire life. I’ve seen it in my grandmother’s life and many other seniors whose lives I’ve been privileged to observe over many decades (not years). And here’s the lesson: The Lord basically says, “You take care of My House, I’ll take care of Your House!” It’s as simple as that!