The earth moved under our house, and the foundation crumbled. – not entirely, but you get the point. Ever-Lovin’ and I discussed the parable of building on solid rock. Now we (at least I) better understand.
If you have never experienced foundation repair, (and we hadn’t) it was most interesting.
Early that morning, the at least six man crew began digging and digging and digging.
One man had a little jack-hammer to break up the concrete.
Now the holes were so deep the grown men could stand upright in them. How did they possibly do this? It is an effort to me to dig a hole big enough for a geranium.
Holes were everywhere – courtyard, dog run, behind the garage, beside the garage, in the front, and in the back. All day long they dug holes.
Bushes were removed and piled along the curb for City of Richardson to remove.
Caution tape warned of danger. We didn’t want anyone to fall into the holes. I really thought it made the house look like a crime scene.
The next day they began installing the piers. Mercy me!
Then they took measurements, and made sure everything was level. (They have cool machines that measure this, but they also used a trusty carpenter’s level. Interesting.
Sweet Mother of Pearl! The the dirt was returned to the holes.
And the house is back in order – except for the missing bushes (It was time for them to go.) Our dwelling is level. Oh, there are still cracks, but they will be patched.
What a difference.
The entire experience made me think about my foundation. There are scriptures about this.
New International Version (NIV)
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
As a child we sang and had hand motions to the song about the foolish man who built his house upon sand, and the wise man who built his house upon the rock. With gusto we illustrated the house of the foolish man tumbling down, and the wise man’s house standing firm.
I am not sure about this, but I think there are times in our lives when God digs down deep into our very being, and gives us “piers” to shore up our foundation. The rock foundation of the wise man was hearing “words of mine and putting these words into practice”.
Makes me think of the verse – “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22.
As adults we sing one of my favorite songs – How Firm a Foundation
- How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? - “Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand. - “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress. - “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine. - “The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
Prayer for tonight. May my foundation be in God’s word, and may I be a doer of the word.
Blessings to you and yours,