Locked Out

When we built the second home we lived in, we were one of the first houses on the cul-de-sac.
Another house was built down the street and around the corner.
A few other houses were scattered here and there.
I remember the sound of hammering and sawing wood long after we moved in.

It was a thickly wooded area where this section of homes was built.
A road, that had ended with trees, had been cleared for our new road to be built.
Each of us had beautiful woods around our property.
A friend once said, They only cleared enough trees to build your house.

My friend was from another state and was accustomed to flat land and not many trees.
I remember the trucks stirring up the dust as they drove by.
I remember the workmen arriving early to begin and leaving the same time each afternoon.
I remember going with my husband and two little girls to see our land.

I could almost imagine how homesteaders must have felt.
Our land.
It was unreal to us, since we were only twenty-six years old at the time.
One daughter was two and a half years old; our other daughter was a few months old.

I carried my little baby in a carrier that was fastened to the front of me.
We could only drive up the existing road so far; we had to walk the rest of the way.
We wore old shoes so that the inevitable mud did not matter.
We watched the progress of our soon-to-be home.

I did not have the engineer eyes my husband had.
I could not envision the living room here and the dining room there.
I could not look at the wood frame and picture a finished room.
Not in the early building stages.

My husband tried to get me to see what he saw.
He tried to show me the blueprints, which meant nothing to me.
Anyone who really knows me, will lovingly say that I am directionally challenged.
Maps mean nothing to me.

Soon, the house was under roof and there were actual plywood floors to walk on.
When I could see myself coming through the front door, I could picture everything else.
It was an amazing process; I saw building in other places as I drove around town.
This house was different; this would be our home and we cared about every nail.

Tile colors, carpet colors, lighting fixtures; the decisions were endless.
However once they were made, the house became even more real.
I enjoyed watching the progress.
I was eager to move into our home with our little girls.

After we moved in, our daughter was invited to a birthday party in the neighborhood.
She was wearing a sundress.
I handed her the present to carry.
I had my little one-year-old daughter in my arms.

I turned the lock on the door as the girls and I went into the garage.
When I got to the car, I did not have my keys.
I looked down and realized that I did not have my purse.
The diaper bag was not there either; it was probably next to my purse on the kitchen island.

I did not want my older daughter to see panic in my eyes.
We were locked out of our house.
I had no purse, no keys, and no wallet.
I had no diaper bag and no diapers.

I took my oldest daughter’s hand while carrying my one-year-old.
I walked across the street to the workmen.
I am locked out of my house, I admitted.
Do you think any of you would help me get inside?

My husband asked me later why I asked the workmen that question?
In my mind, they built the house; they might know how to get in a basement window.
They were smart enough not to even entertain my question.
I asked to use my neighbor’s phone to call the house where the birthday party was taking place.

We got a ride to the house since it was in another section of the development.
With many hills, the walk was too long for my two little girls.
When we got to the house, I called my husband.
I stayed at the birthday party with my little girl on my lap, waiting for my husband to arrive.

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’  “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’  “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.  “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’  “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’  “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13)

I was locked out of my house.
There was no way to get inside without the key.
I stood outside, unable to open any door.
I was on the outside, looking in.

There is a Key.
There is a Way.
There is a Door.
There is a Savior.

We are never locked out of our eternal Home in Heaven when we come to Jesus for salvation.
He is the Key who opens the Door.
With Jesus as our Savior, the Door is never shut to us.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Come to Jesus.
He is the only Key that will open Heaven’s door.

 

2 responses to “Locked Out”

1. Gina: EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!!!

   I loved it.

   Thanks,
   Jeff

   Reply

   • Jeff,
     I am so glad this Whisper blessed you so much.
     Gina

     Reply