Kitchen Renovation – Kitchen Puzzle!
Carol shares how a simple kitchen renovation became a strong reminder that we are in the hands of the Master Builder who has a plan for us.
Not A Puzzle Person
I know I’ve mentioned it multiple times, on these programs, about how I am not a puzzle person. Setting a puzzle together does not relax me but seeing the finished picture is always fun. Sometimes a puzzle takes on a different format than hundreds of small pieces spread out across my table.
We decided to renovate our kitchen, something we had never done in any of the houses we lived in. I met with the designer who helped me plan and visualize my new kitchen. Her beautiful concept drawings helped me have an idea what the finished product would look like. There were so many steps to go from current to new kitchen. It would take a few weeks at best and maybe a lot longer depending on the availability of the trades people.
My Kitchen Renovation
My kitchen renovation began with removing everything from my cupboards so they could be taken apart and hauled away. My youngest daughter and one of my granddaughters helped me empty the cupboards and pack things I used everyday and others that I needed only once in awhile. Most of the items went into boxes to be stored on our balcony. I stacked a few dishes and some cutlery, the toaster oven and kettle, along with assorted other necessities, for life during the next few weeks, on to the dining room table. I trimmed what I planned to use to a bare minimum, always wondering how little I could manage with and still live in our condo apartment for a month.
Old cupboards got ripped out, including the sink and dishwasher. Only the fridge and stove remained. We set up a folding camp table, dug out an old plastic basin, and camped in our kitchen. The electricians arrived to add in more outlets and bring everything up to code. I covered the table with a sheet to keep the dust and dirt off the dishes. My daughter, Lorilee, said it looked like I was creating a mountain scape scene with all the hills and valleys they formed under the cloth. All it needed was some paint to add the colours and shadows to finish the scene.
Kitchen Renovation Delayed
The install date got delayed. Now I had no working electrical outlets in my kitchen except for the stove and fridge. Although cooking remained a viable option, washing pots and pans in a small plastic basin after hauling the hot water from the bathroom taps did not appeal to any of us. We put the microwave on top of the stove and plugged it in. We cooked using a microwave and toaster oven or had take-out meals as much as possible. Doing dishes reminded me of camping but Lorilee reminded me of one benefit—no mosquitos in the house.
I learned, over the course of six weeks, the minimum number of things I needed to survive. Patience became a requirement of this renovation project as delays happened or more work needed to be done than we expected. Each day presented a choice—live with frustration or look on all this as an adventure of camping in our kitchen. We chose to have an adventure.
Life is an Adventure
Life is an adventure where we don’t know how things will turn out, or when a prayer might be answered, or even what God’s answer might be. We have a choice—be frustrated with each day, discouraged, and upset or follow the advice in Proverbs 3:5, 6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
I all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
After weeks of living without a good working kitchen, the new cupboard pieces arrived for installation. The delivery men piled the pieces—big, long, and small ones too, into the living room, some in the kitchen, and even lining some up in the hallway outside our apartment door
With very little room to move around in our main living areas, I thought they may have brought extras for there seemed to be too many pieces for the puzzle of our kitchen. The installer arrived and had no qualms as he checked off each piece. In fact, he reminded us that the corner drawers and a couple other pieces would come later.
This kitchen cabinet puzzle felt like a giant 3-D picture puzzle on steroids. Thankfully, I did not have to know how to assemble it. The master builder looked after all of it. He worked with determination, placing each piece in its proper place and building up from the base. He knew the plan and how to implement it.
Know the Master Builder
At times my life feels like a giant puzzle with too many pieces or maybe missing ones. I can’t figure out how to put them together. I don’t know what the final picture should look like but I know the Master Builder of my life. He has it under control and only asks me to trust Him with every piece whether big, small, bright, or dark and ugly.
Ephesians 2: 8-10 tells us,
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
Not by works, so that no one can boast
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We prepared our kitchen. It did none of the work itself. We had a plan drawn up that included all the good things we wanted to be able to do in our new kitchen. There was purpose to each step of the way even when I did not understand it.
God Has a Plan
God has a plan for each one of us and offers us the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Then He has a purpose for each of our lives and knows in advance all the good things He has purposed us to do. We are the masterpiece of the Master Builder. What a blessing to know that even when I can’t see the purpose or have to wait for results, God is still working on me.
Yes, our lives are a puzzle with many pieces and often we have no idea how they are to fit together but God, the Master Builder, knows exactly how it should look and promises to be with us on our adventure if we allow him to remodel and transform our lives.
What is God’s plan for you? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Carol Harrison
Listen to Carol’s program Puzzle Pieces Of Life or visit Carol’s website carolscorner.ca
Carol Harrison B.Ed is a speaker and published author with one book, Amee’s Story and stories in twelve anthologies. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and ability levels find their voice and reach their fullest potential.
She knows, through personal experience that some of life’s experiences are tougher than others. She encourages people that even in the twists and turns of life God’s amazing grace provides hope.
She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband Brian. They have four adult children and a dozen grandchildren.
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