31 Days of Words for the Daily Dash-Day 19

I've already quoted my brother, Andy, in my 31 Days series way back on Day 5. Now, it's time to do so again. When he said these next words to me, he was, no doubt, expressing what he really thinks about material possessions. But he was also comforting me. Who would have thought that the following simple words about combustible materials could be comforting?

It's just wood, hay, and stubble.

Years ago, when my children were toddlers, my crew visited my brother and his family in Rochester, MN. With their 7 children and our 6, the house was hopping. Mealtimes were interesting, to say the least. At dinner one night, and before I knew what was happening, one of my toddlers began banging his cup against their beautiful, new, wooden dining room table. For some reason, I was not in the immediate vicinity, so a few seconds passed before I could stop the vigorous sippy cup drum solo. The result? Nice small dents in their beautiful, new, wooden dining room table. I was horrified and began apologizing, all the while racking my brain on what making restitution for this table was going to look like and cost. My brother didn't even miss a beat. He said, "Don't worry about it. It's the first of many. And, it's just wood, hay, and stubble. It's gonna burn someday."

Lou and I have taken that thought and run with it. Now, when we buy something new, and we're discussing when the first scratch or dent will eventually come, we actually remind each other of its real place in this world with the words, "It's just wood, hay, and stubble." We want to remember that what we have is to be used freely by whoever, whenever. Hopefully, we will remember that material things are to be used to enhance or facilitate our relationships with people.

Because people do last throughout eternity, so let's invest the majority of our time and energy in them. Let's be more upset about the dents and scratches we inflict on them, either accidentally or - in our worst moments - on purpose, than we are the dents and scratches on our things, that are just wood, hay, and stubble.

 ¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
                                                                                          I Corinthians 3:10-15