Pam has a hobby refinishing old furniture, mainly end tables and coffee tables. She also likes to do some decorating, arts and crafts type stuff. If I do say so myself she is pretty darn good at it. She antiqued a wooden door which we bolted to the wall as a headboard for our bed, it looks great. We have old windows which have been painted and decorated hanging all over our house. She loves that stuff. I think her preferred style is called “shabby chic” or something like that. It’s a big deal. My only involvement is lugging furniture, doors, and windows, in and out of the car, garage and all over the house.
Anyway she was carousing around on Facebook and Craigslist one day trying to sell one of her coffee tables when kind of a peculiar thing happened. It seems God wanted to give her a word of encouragement, maybe to let her know that some of things she is involved in really are a big deal.
Several people were interested in this particular table that she had for sale. Lots of texting back and forth to various people to see who was actually going to buy it. Then a surprise text, it read;
“Pam I have no idea what’s going on with the table, but if they decide not to go for it, I’d love to have it. I believe the one lady is ahead of me, but I think I was meant to see your post today. Let me explain…While trying to figure out who was getting it, I went to message you and realized who you were. My husband and I met you several months back at Celebrate Recovery. I’ve thought of you often during my struggles. You came to me in the ladies room and visited with me. I want you to know I truly appreciated that. Thinking of you being able to work through your struggles helps me with mine. I just wanted you to know you made an impact.”
Shabby chic, is a form of interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their appearance of age and signs of wear and tear or where new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique. At the same time, a soft, opulent, yet cottage-style décor. Old looking, beat up, a few scratches here and there lots of wear and tear, but bursting with character.
Most times we have no idea the impact we have on the lives of the people we encounter. But like in Pam’s case, just going about her day, doing what she does in CR as a ministry and antiquing as a hobby, she has made an impact in the life of a stranger and fulfilled the of scripture that says;
“He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God.” 2 Cor. 14:1 NOG
Pam has been able to comfort many with the same comfort God has given her. That’s what we do in this ministry, and yes it is a big deal.
At Celebrate Recovery as we share our struggles in the context of the master craftsman Jesus Christ, God takes our old beat up shabby piece of humanity and turns it into “shabby chic” soft, opulent, bursting with character. Valuable once again maybe even more so than before.
Thank you for helping us share our struggles through the lens of Celebrate Recovery which is helping many others with theirs.
Celebrating Recovery,
Jim & Pam