In my last post I mentioned that my husband and I were donating an old house to be used for the local fire department’s training.
I received a text first thing this morning letting me know that the fire trucks had arrived and were setting up.
When I arrived, I had to stop myself from allowing my mind to “go there” …. you know … that sentimental place. I am a softie and it was the first time I had been on our parent’s property in a few months. Each spot in the yard held a memory for me.
I looked at the old house (pictured here) and thought of all of the times I played in the front yard. You see, this house was located behind my parent’s home. From the time I was born the Fearrington family lived there. When I was very young, the man of the family died. I remember he had really dark skin and cotton white hair. His name was Max. His wife, Flossie, was like a grandmother to me. She had a granddaughter named Francesca (one year younger than me) who lived with her. I called her Fee Fee. She was my best friend and we were always together.
Ah, what I wouldn’t give to have some of the food that was cooked in that home! Flossie was the BEST cook! Good ol’ soul food. If you aren’t from the south, you wouldn’t understand.
I also remember her making some horrible smelling stuff outside in a big black pot called LYE soap! Ick. She also used one of those old washing machines that had a wringer on top. I can still see her running clothes through that wringer and squeezing out all of the water.
This house never did have an indoor restroom. It had an outhouse that I remember using when I was a child. I also remember Flossie bathing me from a dishpan full of soapy water. Times were a lot different then …
When I was young, Flossie’s front yard held two HUGE trees. I’m not sure now if they were elms or oaks, but their roots traveled along the top of the ground. Fee Fee and I jumped from root to root as if they were roads to follow.
Yes, I remembered fondly as I stood and watched the firemen prepare themselves for training. I told them I wanted to see the old house one more time.
The window pictured above with the flames is near the spot where Flossie would have me sit when it stormed. She would make us unplug everything and sit quietly in a corner.
Another loss …
Both of my parents died over a year ago and now another part of my childhood disappeared today. As I stood out there among the firemen I tried to block the thoughts of loss and focus on good memories. Everything around my parent’s home has changed …
There is a fire that refines.
Revelation 3:18
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Though there were many sweet memories in this house, a lot of sad things took place as well. Abuse took place in this house.
Cleansing fire …
With all of the sweet memories the fire also burns away all of the physical remnants of sin that took place in that house …
Burned …
Cleansed …
Refined …
Zechariah 13:9
I will bring the one–third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”
