"In this hope, we are saved..."

Last week, we made the unfortunate mistake of doing a few much-needed jobs in our backyard, which exposed even more jobs that needed done. On Tuesday morning last week, I was lamenting the sad state of our backyard, vowing to fill in the swimming pool and turn it into a basketball court. My friend came over to drop her son off, as usual on Tuesday. But this time she said that she had some ferns that she could come in and plant if I had time. She had no idea that we were working on the backyard -- she had simply been tending her own garden and wanted to share her crop. So she came back and, by the Lord's grace, was nothing but encouraging about what she saw. (This is one of those friends I can always count on to tell the truth -- I knew she wouldn't say something just to make me feel good -- so I really listened to what she was saying.) She was praising my yard and looking at it with the eyes of a gardener, with the eyes of one trained to recognize the beauty of God's creation, and well aware of God's power to transform small ferns into full foliage that will frame my fence beautifully. Praise God for His reminders that He doesn't see this world or people (or my backyard) as I do. He sees them through the eyes of His promises, promises to redeem all of His creation. His promises need to be more real to me than the imperfections that surround me everywhere in this fallen world.

The lesson was underlined twice: Once later last week, when a termite man (Don't ask..) came out, walked through my back gate, and his first words, to my utter shock, were, "What a beautiful backyard." And then again today when a dear family called me over to their car after church and said, "I saved four plants for you from our landscaping job." (Again, this family had no idea that we are working on our backyard!) Redeemed plants, destined for the dumpster, they said, but saved in a moment of mercy!

Meanwhile, I have to wait because John has wisely said no to any more repairs or big spending until January... or February... or March. (Or a windfall!) So I sit here with a very imperfect looking house and yard, and praise the Lord that He has given me a wise husband whom I can trust and that He promises to redeem and make all things beautiful. My home is an object lesson on Romans 8:19-25:

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.