‘Tis the season for yard sales. Driveways lined with tables strewn with baby clothes, toys, romance novels, and Barry Manilow cassettes.
For at a yard sale years ago I learned a very important lesson – be slow to judge.
One day my wife Kristi decides to have a yard sale. All Friday evening we lug stuff from closets and basement, painstakingly pricing countless items, eagerly anticipating the thronging crowds who will come to empty their pockets upon our doorstep.
Kristi invites her friends Mary and Gretchen to join her. The dew is still on the grass this sunny Saturday morning as the early birds show up well before the sale. I cheerfully man the fort, serving our small children breakfast and getting them dressed, occasionally popping outside to chat with customers while the kids watch The Gospel Bill Show inside.
As the morning wears on, my cheerfulness evaporates like the morning dew. The kids are in hyper-drive, and I’m tired of tending them and doing morning chores. At one point I look out the window and there are no customers, but Kristi, Mary and Gretchen are having a great time drinking coffee, talking and laughing.
“How are sales going ladies?” I ask.
“Hardly anybody’s buying anything now,” Kristi says, “but we’re having a blast.”
“Great,” I say thinly, as something crashes behind me, followed by wailing.
Throughout the morning I check to see how the sale is progressing. Few customers — but Kristi, Gretchen and Mary enjoying every minute.
“If we’re not selling anything maybe we should just call it a day and take whatever’s left to Good Will,” I suggest around 11.
“That’s okay, we’re having so much fun hanging out together we don’t mind not selling much.”
All afternoon they carry on, while inside, Smeagol morphs into Gollum while doing dishes, laundry and vacuuming. Around 4, Kristi comes in and asks, “Do you care if I run out to the mall to get something with the money I made?”
“Sure, have fun,” I croak, forcing the world’s tightest smile.
“Go,” I mutter to myself, “I’ve only been stuck here all day slaving away without a moment to myself. No — you go. Maybe I can find some old waxy linoleum to scrape or a toilet I can plunge after I bathe the kids and put them to bed.”
A couple hours later Kristi returns with a hanger covered with a plastic bag.
“Get yourself something nice?” I ask, like she’s carrying a dead raccoon.
With a look of pure joy, Kristi removes the bag revealing a beautiful leather bomber jacket. “No, I got something for you.”
I wither into a pool of misery like the Wicked Witch of the West after water’s been poured on her. I take my “Coat of Condemnation” from my loving wife, who held the whole yard sale for me. O Come, ye fellow depraved hearts and learn. Be slow to judge, and quick to believe the best of your brothers and sisters.
Photo by loveunderlined
sounds like you’ve got the best wife ever!
Thanks for the sweet story and for the reminder!!
ug! that’s the worst. happens to me all the time. good lesson though.
Wow, what a great story! You have a very sweet wife.
Just think… that never ending day of messes and fights and cleaning and messes and no breaks EVER – that’s a typical day in the life of many of us women. It’s good for you guys to get a taste of it every once in a while, don’t ya think?
Isn’t it funny how God uses our spouses to show us how sinful and depraved we really are?
That has happened so many times to me and every time I think, “I’ll never do that again or think that thought again”….well you know!
Marriage is also a great way that God exemplifies his grace and gives us opportunities to extend grace and love to those who don’t deserve it!
Great post, I really needed that today! Thank You!!
Mark—How do you do it?
As I read this, I was crying at my own sin….and then ended laughing out loud..with tears still coming for the conviction.
You are a mighty instrument in the hands of our Redeemer.
Please know that He uses you and Stephen tremndously through this blog for a sister wayyyy out here in sunny Cali.
Thanks so much!
Hey Emily, I do have the best wife ever. I sure got the best end of that deal.
Wendy, You’re welcome – thanks!
Victoria, You’re right – it’s the worst. But Jesus is good to show us our sin, for then we can confess it and by his grace keep putting it to death.
Courtney, you are so right – us guys need to appreciate what our wives do every day!
Thanks Ron – yep, marriage is a wonderful tool of the Lord for our sanctification. For me, Jesus also uses teenagers and dogs.
DeeDee, thank you for your kind words.
I hear often from my married friends how marriage is sanctification… like looking in a mirror daily! This seems like one of those bittersweet moments! Praise God for desiring to work within you to mold you to His Son’s image, and praise God for such a sweet wife!
What a great post. Had me in hysterics as I pictured the scene. I miss those ladies. Everything I’ve learned about good yard saling, I’ve learned from those women…that and a whole lot of other immensely useful, God glorifying stuff about life. Miss the LOLC crew. (P.S. I’m still trying to convince Lawrence to move us back).
Sweet story!!!
Oh Mark that is so funny! I love the “Coat of Condemnation” (giggle). Well-I agree with Courtney. I tell Thern every now and then I think he’d be one funny guy to watch if he stayed home with our son all week. I also agree that though I don’t know your wife I can imagine she’s a beacon of grace. Great story and so true!
Jenn, Yes, praise God for his faithfulness to me, even if it means using yard sales.
Hey Briana, tell Lawrence I have a word for him – “Move to Indiana” – the yard sales are better here. We miss you too!
Thanks Rachael!
Hi Trillia, Thern should do that sometime. He’d get some serious man-points. I had my “Coat of Condemnation” for many years…it kept me warm thru many a cold winter.