(Be sure to read to the end)
This old door has been standing up against my garden shed for the longest time. It is weary and worn, weather beaten and riddled with dry-rot. The paint is brittle and chipped, peeling away the layers of time, revealing a colorful past. Its hardware~corroded with rust, wooden edges and seams~
Surprisingly the pane of glass is still intact~how? I cannot fathom.
What is so intriguing about this old door? Why does it beckon
me to come near...to take a closer look? Is there a story here?
now long gone?
Perhaps. Imagine how many human souls passed through
this old door...welcomed home after a long journey....bid farewell at the beginning of a new adventure...hurriedly opened and closed too many times to tell what stories lay behind this sacred fortress.
An anxious wife watched as her husband drove away each morning...did she ever wonder if he might not return some day?
Regretting words spoken in anger, wishing she could shout through the window, "Come back! I'm sorry!"
The young mother watched through this window as her little boy played safely in the yard each day. I wonder how often did she call his name from this same door..."Time to come in and wash up for supper!"
Was that same woman rejoicing when she saw her tall, strong soldier son returning from the war..throwing open this old door and running out to embrace him, showering him with kisses as tears of joy ran down her cheeks?
Did the hard working father faithfully turn the key in the lock each night, sliding the bolt, making sure his family was safe from harm?
How many people knocked on this old door? Who was welcome...who was turned away?
Yeah, this old door has a story to tell, but it will hold those secrets securely just as it guarded this old house from harm for many years.
I can't just throw it away. Could you? Would you?
Jesus beckons to us today, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20
Would you open the door?
Postscript: This is a rerun post...originally written way back in January of 2013. Sad to say, not long after writing this, this wonderful old door blew over in the wind and broke to smithereens...we tried to salvage what we could of the wood and door knob/lock, but most of the wood was too rotten with age...it had served its purpose for many years, but after me telling its life story it just blew over and disintegrated. Such is life...once we have served our purpose here on this earth, we return to the dust from which we were created and our souls are called away to our heavenly home. My prayer is that when my life's story is written some day, it will tell a story of love and grace and courage...because of my Creator, Savior, and Lord...without Him, my life would be meaningless...How will your life's story read?
Oh Pamela, I really love this so much! You explored the possible past of this beautiful door so wonderfully. It is making me look around at some of my old treasures and wonder about their former lives.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Thank you Susie. It was a challenge...Dawn threw out the gauntlet...when I asked on Facebook...what would you do with this old door, and she said, "I'd write about it." I said, "you would." Ha! So, after sleeping on it, this is what came out. Yes, I've always been a big fan of "If Walls Could Talk"... something to think about.
ReplyDeleteI miss that show---I loved it!
ReplyDeleteDon't throw that old door away---it holds too many
possibilities!
Don't worry, sis, I won't throw it away...but I do hope to find a new purpose for it...a new lease on life! Stay tuned for further developments in the life of "This Old Door". music fades......
DeleteLove the stories you told about 'this ole door' and yes maybe,just maybe each one was true! Could be so...
ReplyDeletehugs,
Sylvia
We may never know...but most likely they could be...
DeleteThanks for stopping by to visit. I would definitely open my door to YOU! :)
Very nice Pamela. Very nice. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMary, I just saw your latest post and commented there. You are in my prayers as you sort through the memories of your Mother's life. I've been there, done that, and it is not an easy place to be. But now you will remember the sweet things about her and all the hard times of the recent past will fade. At least that is what I hope and pray for you. May God continue to bring you comfort.
DeleteI love "If walls could talk too," and your post makes me think of wonderful old movies too... Lovely thoughts. :) I like think of all the stories behind us too...
ReplyDeleteBehind every door there is a story waiting to be told...
DeleteThank you for your input and kind thoughts today...that's what we are all here for...sharing the stories behind our doors. Kind of neat, huh?
Hi Pamela,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post you wrote. Such an interesting old door! We are staying in Williston Fl. for a few months and enjoying your lovely weather! Wondering if you live near. Have a wonderful weekend!
Nancy
I appreciate your visit to my story while you are in the area...wish we could've gotten together...are you still here? Hope you are enjoying the weather! Blessings to you...
DeletePamela: The thoughts you had about the door are precious. I really like the way you looked at each facet of life that door could have had.
ReplyDeleteThank you...I often think about stuff like that when I enter an old house or building,or a different "new to me" home. I also wonder what others may find when I leave behind my earthly dwelling and move up to my eternal home...
DeleteJust another way that you and I are alike, Pam. I love to see things like this old door and wonder who lived behind it and such, just as you have described in this beautiful post. I think that is one reason I am drawn to auctions. I love old things and they all have a story behind them. The thing that really gets to me though is to see old family pictures at auctions. It breaks my heart that someone would sell something that meant so much to a family member at one time.
ReplyDeleteI would have the same desire as you for when my life story is told. I'm so thankful that the Lord is my Savior because any good that is told of me will be because of His grace and power.
xx
A lovely analogy and lesson for life! Amen!
ReplyDeleteA lovely post, what stories could be told if walls could talk :)
ReplyDeleteDiana
First off- Did you know that when you leave a comment on a blog you show up as a No Reply commenter-that means that your comment can't be replied to directly and, for those of us that view comment via email, your comment goes to Spam or Trash. Just not sure if you are aware of that so thought I would mention it in case you want to change the reply thing in your settings.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this old door. I would never part with it either. I also 'connect' to those inanimate objects and create memories of what might have been---especially with old houses that I see abandoned. Who lived there? Were there clothes on the line pegged there while a mom had a little one clinging to her skirt?
Thanks for this post- I loved it. xo Diana
I don't know how that "No Reply commenter" works. I've never had anyone else tell me that before. I don't know where or how to fix that. Is that in Blogger? Thank you for your comments...I will see if I can figure it out.
DeleteIf this old door could talk.....
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings, Cindy
Yes...wouldn't that be great? Thank you, Cindy.
DeleteThis old door . . . Such a lovely story, Pamela, just imagining the life that door could have witnessed. Such a shame to know it is no longer there, but so it will be with us one day, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm glad I opened my door the day Jesus knocked on it.
Blessings to you!
Loved the post about an old door Pamela. Still down with remnants of the flu. Even with medication it still seems to linger on. Have an evening and day ahead of blessings my friend.
ReplyDeletePraying you are feeling better today, Toni. Praying for you now.
DeleteI am glad I read this, Pamela.
ReplyDeleteI would throw that door wide open, off its hings, and into the yard-- because I am hungry. Come in. Come in, Lord...
I like how it got to leave when it was its time. One day it was not time, the next it was...
"...My prayer is that when my life's story is written some day, it will tell a story of love and grace and courage...because of my Creator, Savior, and Lord...without Him, my life would be meaningless...How will your life's story read?"
I think you will get this and then some. I hope I do too.
Our stories are being written one day at a time...one page at a time...Praise God, HE is doing the writing!!
DeleteWhat an absolutely awesome story. I love how you took an inanimate object and gave it a life, then showed how it relates to our own life when God calls us home! You need to write a book, sweet Lady! 💜
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, Debbie. I dream of writing a book someday...but then, I think, this is my book...written here day by day...and it's free!!
DeletePam: This is a very touching story. I enjoyed re-reading it. It makes me think of times past and how they relate to our present circumstances. Blessings to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming back here the second time, Cecelia!! Yes...so much of history shapes our today and future. We are writing our future story now...
DeleteLovely post with a great message. I am glad you shared it for those of us who didn't see it before.
ReplyDeleteWould I throw it away? If it was rotted away, yes. If it was in better condition it might get used as a room divider or a backing for hooks to hold coats or a back piece to hold shelves to give it another new purpose in life :). Things change, we change and grow. Maybe doors can too.
I had lots of good ideas swimming around in my head of what to do with this door...even started a pinterest page...and then, bam! down it went! It had served its purpose and it was done. Time for a new page...a new adventure!!
DeleteWell---did you keep the door knob plate and the lock, etc? :) Just wondering-- I remember that old door. It's too bad it fell apart. Yep, kinda like us old humans!
ReplyDeleteActually, the doorknob was already gone, but we did keep the plate,lock. Somewhere...I think...I was going to use it on one of the kitchen cabinets...but decided it was too rusty to mess with...yep, like some of us old humans...too rusty to mess with! LOL.
Delete