Today marks the first day of Project Wurschmidt Home Upfit. We have a long list of home repairs that need to be completed before we can put it on the market to rent while we are in Africa. Leo and I have been watching the house slowly fall into disrepair over the past few years due to budget restraints, so for us this is a very exciting time because we know the repairs are necessary and will make the house better than before. To our 4 year old daughter, however, all she sees is a group of unknown men tearing up her beloved home. She became quite upset and tearfully told us that she loved our house and didn’t want it to be fixed. In her mind, ‘fixing’ meant to tear apart. It left her feeling unsettled, sad and even a little frightened.
Using her love for fashion and habit of changing outfits a minimum of three times each day, we calmly explained to her that the house was simply getting a new ‘dress.’ They had to remove the old ‘dress’ before they could put the new one on, so at first it would look ugly but then would have a beautiful new look.

She eventually stopped crying but stubbornly refused to see things our way, so we had to simply tell her to trust us. As she left for school, she threw one last look of distrust toward the strangers tearing up her house and said again that she didn’t want her house to change!

After she left, I stood at the bathroom sink getting ready for the day and reflected on our conversation. I suddenly realized that this was exactly what I say to God when He tries to remove something ‘ugly’ from my life. I stubbornly hang onto it and tell Him that I don’t want anything to change; that I’m comfortable with the way it is now. God sees the finished project and is excited for the work to begin, but all I can focus on is the challenging and oftentimes painful process ahead. He tells me to Trust Him and let go of the old so He can bring a new and beautiful change.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! –2 Corinthians 5:17

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. –Galations 3:26-27

Stay tuned to view the finished project!