the before and the after...

One of my favorite tv networks to watch is HGTV. No seriously. Sure i give my dad a hard time when he grabs the remote and we are stuck watching some renovation project for hours...but to be honest, i really like it. I am sure the show is geared to teach men how to build things and i really could care less about that. I am all for watching the Before and Afters. With any project, they always show how bad something is and then show how they change it up to be super awesome. I LOVE seeing what changes and how something old and boring can be taken and recreated to something new and fresh. (side note: I always wanted to be on TLC's Trading Spaces and spent hours creating my dream room. That dream never did happen, but a couple of years ago, my family created my dream room. So i'd says its a win)

Watching a whole entire episode of any show was super great (when mom was the Fun Mom and let us watch something) but then TiVo, Hulu, and Netflix were introduced. And from there...i don't think i have ever watched a full episode of any TLC or HGTV show. I always know that the ending will be awesome because they compare the Before and After to each other and its so fun to see all the changes...but I skip the Middle part entirely.

I joke around saying, "I know God is teaching me so much when I am in the midst of hard situations. But im ready to see the end results." I LOVE LOVE looking back over a season and seeing how much He has worked on my heart and how much i have grown. Comparing a picture of me Before to the me Afterwards gives me a visual that i am really growing. But heres the thing...There is no value in the After when we skip over all the hard work, all the in-between stuff. The progress (or Middle part) to get from one place to another is such an important part and yet far too often it is left in the dust.

I seriously am ok with the hard times, but AFTER everything is done. After that season ends. After a lot of time goes on and i can look back. I hate the Middle part completely. I get tired, drained, and frustrated.

Lucky for me, I have Jesus as my Carpenter, Handyman, Creator, Renovator and as i am tossed back and forth with life circumstances, He is there all the way guiding me and transforming me into what He created me to be.

So instead of hating every minute of the Middle part, i should find joy knowing that i am being renewed and refined for His glory. I feel like once i get to that place, i will appreciate the Before and After so much more.

(btw, picture credit goes to a dear mentor of mine who has made her house remarkably homey and incredibly welcoming. I figured this was better than grabbing some random picture off Google)