Spoiling of Goods

About a year ago Mother stumbled across the verse in Hebrews 10:34. The way it is written in the version she read was that they, “took joyfully the spoiling of [their] goods.”

Perhaps I should have started by telling the reader that lots things have broken since we arrived. A ceramic vase painted by a beloved niece (I fixed it and it’s hardly noticeable) several mugs, bone china cups, glasses and one crystal bowl. Why there was an increase in breakage after our arrival I cannot say. Some of it happens when Mom’s walker collides with cabinets. But I must claim responsibility for the rest. On occasion I rush too much or I overcrowd the dishwasher. Regardless of the cause, many of her treasured items have broken. When she read the above verse she laughed and announced, “This is it! From now on I will take joyfully the spoiling of my goods.” Now when something breaks we let her know that it’s time to rejoice, we just spoiled some more of her goods.

We moved a hospital bed into the den last Friday. It was not ‘spoiling of the goods’ as much as it was ruining the overall ‘feng shui’ of a home she had thoughtfully decorated. I watched a cloud move across her face when the hospice nurse suggested we order the bed. I knew she thought it would clash with the rest of the furniture. Finally she agreed with the understanding it was only temporary.

After the bed was delivered the house looked as if someone had turned it upside down. Furniture was stacked in all the rooms and the entire place was in glorious disarray. We shifted Mom from chair to chair and worked around her, by the evening we navigated around just enough to get her tucked in. On Saturday everything was in a new place and in some ways we like it more. Have you ever noticed that occasionally you must become undone in order to get anything done?

About thirty years ago Mom read an article that inspired her to use her fine china more often. The writer asked why the prettiest dishes are used only for display, as if we lived in museums. Mom announced that she would be break out the fine dinnerware for family and friends because every moment with those we love is special.  Since moving here we have tried to honor her wishes. We've even set the table with fine china as the four of us enjoyed a meal of leftovers.

These days of the journey really are about so much more than just a few fragile possessions. The accoutrements that fill our lives are fun, but at the end of the day all of it will break or vanish. I think about this as I see the reports of the forest fires and floods that have stolen so much from so many.  Jesus told us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy.” If we get our perspective correct concerning treasure then we are able to look joyfully upon the spoiling of all of our goods.” It’s what makes the journey rich with blessing.